Day 6 - Game 3 - Awa Koukou (Chiba) vs. Ujiyamada Shougyou (Mie)

After the surprising dominance of Kita Ootsu over Yokohama, it was time for 2 newcomers to come to the field. Awa Koukou defeated Jyouhoku Koukou (really this time) with some late inning runs 2-0. For Ujiyamada, this is their first game in the Spring Koushien. All bets are off, but suffice it to say, it'll probably be close.

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

Ujiyamada Shougyou
LF Matshushima
SS Kida Kouta
CF Kataoka
1B Nakano
C Kida Keita
P Hirao
RF Mitsunaga
3B Shimizu
2B Kitagawa


As people get settled into their seats, Iwazawa take the 0-1 pitch to LF. It keeps going and it's gone?! Awa gets on the board quickly with a leadoff home run!!

Hirao is a bit stunned at the opening of the game, and it shows as he walks Watanabe on 4 straight. If he's not careful, this game could end as quickly as it started.

He gets the count to 1-2 on Suzuki and strikes him out. One down. Then Kashima comes to plate and he too goes down swinging. Last chance for Awa to keep the early momentum going is Sano, and he too strikes out. So Hirao does get out of the first inning jitters with just the leadoff homerun.

But things get dicey in the 2nd again. Tanaka hits one to the right side and Kitagawa makes the stop, but has no play at first. After a Sano sacrifice bunt, it's Yoshino's turn to get him home. But on three straight he strikes out looking. It's up to last batter Nakagawa, and he delivers lining one to center scoring Tanaka! And that brings up Iwazawa who led off the game with a HR. Hirao gets the count to 2-2, but can't put him away as he fouls off two pitches. Then, on the 7th pitch of the AB, he gets a hold of it! It's a drive to LF again, and this time it's off the wall. Running on contact, Nakagawa is flying around the bases and scores on the 2 out double by Iwazawa! What a game for him so far, and Awa is out to a 3-0 lead!

Ujiyamada hasn't been able to reply. Through 5 Sano has faced just one more than the minimum yielding only a single in the 1st (who was CS), a walk in the 2nd who was doubled off to end the inning, and a hit batter in the 5th who was stranded.

Hirao looks to have really settled down this time too, going 1-2-3 in the 3rd, striking out the side after a leadoff single in the 4th, striking out 2 of 3 (including rival Iwazawa) in the 5th and giving up only a single in the 6th. He's keeping them in it, but they're running out of innings.

Bottom 6 for Ujiyamada now, one down for Kitagawa. He hits one up the middle just to the left of Suzuki. He moves over to field it and it goes under his legs and into CF! Then the CF misses the handle on the ball and Kitagawa reaches 2nd! They finally have a decent scoring opportunity. Matsushima though lines to 2nd, and Kida Kouta grounds to 2nd ending the inning.

Top 7, one down for Nakagawa, and he drives the 0-1 pitch to the RCF wall for a double looking to extend the lead and bringing up Iwazawa. The count goes to 2-2 and Hirao gets Iwazawa to strike out looking! After that tenseful AB, Watanabe grounds to 1st ending the inning.

Bottom 7, Kataoka hits one to Watanabe, but his throw to 1st is high! But Nakano fails to bunt him over, and Kida Keita to pop to 3rd. Needing a run, Kataoka takes it upon himself to get in scoring position, stealing 2nd on the 0-1 pitch to Hirao. But it's all for nought as he grounds to 1st.

Move on to the 8th now, and Mitsunaga is replaced by Nakano (#17). He takes the 1-0 pitch to deep LF, but the park holds the ball and Nakagawa makes the catch. Shimizu comes up now and he takes a full count pitch to center. Kitagawa then grounds one right to Satou, and a low bounce means the ball goes under his legs! He'll take that one as it means that they have a great opportunity to close the gap. Matsushima looks to drive in one here and he lines one over Satou and down the LF line! Shimizu scores, Kitagawa goes to 3rd. Throw from Nakagawa to Satou gets there, but it's knocked out by Kitagawa! Everyone's safe, and there's still only 1 down! Kida Kouta looks to cut the deficit to one, but looks like he's pressing and pops out to Satou. Kataoka looks more patient, walking to load the bases for their cleanup hitter Nakano. His hitless streak though continues as he grounds to 1st. But the deficit is cut to 2.

Top 9 for Awa, Tanaka and Sano go down early. Yoshino singles to the right side, then Nakagawa walks. Awa would like another run as Ujiyamada seems to be getting the bat on the ball. And on the 1-0 count, Kida Keita makes an odd pickoff throw to 2nd that misses his brother and goes into CF allowing Yoshino to advance to 3rd, and remember that it's Iwazawa up to bat again! Hirao though, gets him to fly out to center, and it's hang on time for Awa.

Kida Keita leads it off and singles to left. Hirao comes up and lines it up the middle. Nakano, who stayed in the game after his PH in the 8th, bunts them along putting the tying run in scoring position. Awa's manager elects not to create a force play at home by intentionally walking Shimizu. He works the count full, and drives the pitch down the RF line!! Kida scores, Hirao scores!! Shimizu comes through with a game tying double, and Ujiyamada has the winning run at 2nd for Kitagawa!! First pitch hit to shallow LCF. Nakagawa charges in, dives and makes the catch! No, wait! He's scrambling and throws the ball in. Shimizu's rounded 3rd and coming home!! He crosses home and the Ujiyamada players are coming out of the dugout!! Nakagawa lost the ball, he lost the ball!!! It's over, Kitagawa with the sayonara single and Ujiyamada scores 3 in the 9th to advance and face Chiben Wakayama!!!!


Player Lines
Iwazawa (Awa) - 2-5, 2B, HR, R, 2RBI, 2K
Tanaka (Awa) - 3-4, R
Nakagawa (Awa) - 2-3, 2B, K, BB
Sano (Awa) - L, CG, 3R, 2ER, 7H, 2K, 3BB
Shimizu (Ujiyamada) - 2-4, 2B, R, 2RBI, K
Kitagawa (Ujiyamada) - 1-4, RBI, game winning single
Hirao (Ujiyamada) - W, CG, 3ER, 8H, 12K, 2BB