Day 1 - Game 3 - Awa Koukou (Chiba) vs. Jyouhoku Koukou (Kumamoto)

(Ok. This is the REAL game with Jyouhoku Koukou. I was using an older, buggier version of my brackets when I did the scorebook which is why I goofed on the first game's combatants.)

The final game of the day featured two relatively new teams. Awa, making their first appearance as a 21st century team, and Jyouhoku making only their 3rd appearance and first in 11 years.

Awa Koukou
CF Iwasaki
2B Watanabe
SS Suzuki
C Kashima
3B Satou
1B Tanaka
P Sano
RF Yoshino
LF Nakagawa

Jyouhoku Koukou
SS Tsuru
CF Oka
C Furushou
LF Yamazaki
3B Hara
P Murakata
1B Fukuhara
2B Shimokawa
RF Horinaga

As is the case with two relatively unknown teams, the quality of play tends to be a bit lower. Perhaps a couple errors due to the Koushien infield, or just from plain nervousness. More often, you tend to see a lack of offense. That was the case here. Awa's batters the first time through the lineup went 0-9 with 6 K's. Jyouhoku fared no better although they did manage to get runners at the corners with 2 out in the 2nd.

It's not until the bottom of the 5th that Jyouhoku gets the first scoring opportunity. Fukuhara lays down a bunt up the middle – Sano grabs it, but rushes the throw to first allowing Fukuhara to reach. He's moved over by Shimokawa. Last batter Horinaga manages a walk putting runners at the corners. Big chance now for leadoff bater Tsuru. But on a 1-1 pitch, he grounds to the pitcher who in turn finds Fukuhara caught off 3rd! He's run down 1-2-5-1 and there's 2 down! Sano completes the cleanup with a groundout by Oka on the first pitch to SS Suzuki.

The scoring opportunity would be a wake up call to Awa. In the 7th, Suzuki singles to LCF. Kashima lays down the bunt, P Murakata takes it and decides to go for 2nd, but the throw is high and pulls Tsuru off the bag! Runners at 1st and 2nd with no out! But as Satou comes up to bat, Murakata picks off Suzuki off 2nd! A poor show of baserunning could kill the rally! And indeed it does as Satou would ground into the 6-4-3 DP ending the inning.

With the offenses playing as they were, it would seem first team to score would win. Awa would have another chance the very next inning. Tanaka lines a shot right at Murakata. It's off him and deflects to Shimokawa! He gets to the ball, but he bobbles it and Tanaka is safe! He's moved over by Sano, but neither of the batters at the bottom could deliver the timely hit.

Sensing the momentum Awa is building, Jyouhoku starts things moving. Leadoff batter Tsuru starts with an infield single to Suzuki. Oka lays down a bunt, but he pops it up! Sano dives for it, but he can't get it! But wait, Tsuru is frozen at first as he thought Sano was going to get it! By the time he starts running, Sano gets the ball and fires to 2nd to make the force out! Undaunted, Furushou bunts Oka to 2nd. This is only their third opportunity with RISP! And their cleanup better Yamazaki is up to bat! On the first pitch, Yamazaki hits one to the left side! Suzuki makes the diving stop to get the ball preventing Oka from scoring! With Hara up, Yamazaki takes 2nd, but in the end it doesn't matter as Hara pops to Watanabe ending the inning.

Momentum seems to have shifted to Awa, but they quickly get two outs in the 9th. Suzuki lines one through the left side, but there's still 2 out. Cleanup batter Kashima comes up to bat, but has been held hitless the entire game. With a 2-1 count, he gets a hold of a high fastball and drives it to deep right! Horinaga runs back, but it's over his head! Suzuki scores all the way from first on the Kashima triple! Awa has broken through in the 9th for the 1-0 lead! And it doesn't stop there as Satou follows that up with a single to LF, plating Kashima and extending the lead to 2!

Jyouhoku would still have their AB's in the bottom half of the frame. After Murakata grounds to the SS, Fukuhara singles to LF. Shimokawa is lifted for PH Kakuyama (#9). He grounds one to the SS, but Suzuki is too eager to start the DP and a high bounce leaves him unable to field the ball cleanly! Runners at 1st and 2nd with 1 out! Horinaga is lifted for PH Arai (#15), but he can't drive the run in as he grounds to Sano. He tries to start the DP , but can't get Arai at first. Arai is replaced at first by PR ? (#16). Now it's up to Tsuru to extend the game. He cannot as he grounds to Tanaka ending the game.

Player Lines
Suzuki (Awa) – 2-4, R
Kashima (Awa) – 1-4, 3B, R, RBI
Sano (Awa) – CG, 0 ER, 9 H, 4 K, BB
Yamazaki (Jyouhoku) - 2-4, SB
Fukuhara (Jyouhoku), 4-4
Murakata (Jyouhoku) - CG, 2 ER, 6 H, 10 K, 2 BB