Day 9 - Game 1 - Chiben Wakayama (Wakayama) vs. Ujiyamada Shougyou (Mie)

The originally scheduled first game has two regional teams battling it out. Little know Ujiyamada Shougyou from Ise-shi, Mie-ken versus the perennial powerhouse Chiben Wakayama (for the record, I love their “Jock Rock” cheer). Suffice it to say, Ujiyamada will probably have their hands full the entire game.

Chiben Wakayama
C Morimoto
3B Urata
2B Katsuya
1B Sakaguchi
RF Shibata
LF Takahashi
CF Tanpo
SS Kitabatake
P Okada

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

The rain seems to have lightened up a little for this game.

Chiben gets base runners early. Urata walks and is followed by a single through the left side by Katsuya. But Sakaguchi grounds into the 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.

Then in the 2nd, Takahashi gets plunked with one down. Kitabatake later in the inning hits a bloop single to center putting runners at the corners with 2 down. But Okada strikes out to end the inning.

Top 4, another opportunity for Chiben Wakayama. 2 down, Takahashi singles through the left side. Tanpo does likewise. But Kitabatake pops to Kida Keita to end the inning.

Then in the bottom of the 4th with two down, Kida Kouta steps up to the plate. Next thing you know, he takes a 1-1 pitch deep down the left field line. Takahashi runs back, looks up and it’s just past the pole for a homerun! Ujiyamada has taken the lead over Chiben Wakayama!

Ujiyamada looks to use the momentum in the 5th. Nakano (1B) leads off with a double to the LCF gap! Then with Shimizu up, Nakano moves as if Shimizu’s going to bunt. But he doesn’t, and Nakano is caught off 2nd and is picked off!

Chiben now needs to work on tying the game. Top 6, Katsuya gets a single right through Hirao’s wickets. Instead of bunting, Sakaguchi swings away. He grounds to Hirao who starts the double play. But his throw is low and everyone’s safe! But then, the bizarre happens. On the first pitch, it’s Katsuya who’s picked off of 2nd by Kida Kouta. To compound that, Sakaguchi takes off on to 2-0 pitch only to be thrown out by Kida!

Moving to the bottom of the 6th, Ujiyamada gets another opportunity. Kitagawa starts with an infield single to Kitabatake. Kataoka moves him along. Having seen the leadoff batters get on base the last two innings, and with Keita Kouta who hit the homerun earlier up to bat, Chiben’s manager elects to pull Okada out of the game and replace him with Hayashi (#9). Kouta doesn’t care though, he gets an infield single also to Kitabatake to put runners at the corners for Hirao. He can’t get the job done though, as he grounds out to Hayashi. It’s up to Nakano now, and he hits a nubber in front of the plate. Hayashi charges and makes a fine throw at 1st to keep the deficit at 1!

But the fact remains they’re still behind and they’re running out of innings. In the 8th, Hayashi starts it off with a single to left. Morimoto tries to put the bunt down, but he pops up to Kouta. Urata tries to put the bunt down next, and succeeds. They’re desperate for a run in any way as evidenced by the one out sac bunt. And Katsuya delivers! He lines a slider up the middle! Hayashi rounds 3rd and rambles home to tie the game!! Now who can score first here?

Ujiyamada knows that the longer this game goes, the more the advantage will shift to Chiben. They need to score in regulation if they can. Bottom 8, Matsushima walks and is moved over. He advances to 3rd on the groundout by Kataoka to the right side. Perhaps they can get that 2-out base hit as well, especially since Kouta is up yet again. But they’re not really pitching to him and give him the semi-intentional walk. Hirao has a chance to bring the run in. He’s 2-3 on the day, but 0-1 against Hayashi. And Hayashi gets him yet again with a strikeout to preserve the tie.

In the 9th, they get another shot to end it in regulation. Nakano (RF) singles to left. Nakano (1B) tries to put the bunt down but fails to do so three times. While he does advance to 2nd with 2 out on a stolen base, he’s stranded and the game does indeed go into extras.

Top 10, Morimoto starts off with a one out single to center. Again, Chiben’s manager elects to bunt to try and get the run now. But even after Urata puts the bunt down, Katsuya can’t deliver the go-ahead hit.

Bottom 10, Kitagawa gets his own one out single. Kataoka bunts him over for Kouta. This time they elect to pitch to him. And he drives the first pitch to deep center!! Tanpo is running back, still running, looks back, makes a last minute adjustment and he makes the running catch! What an amazing catch by Tanpo to keep Chiben alive!!!!

Chiben knows that they need to get the game over with before they get back to Kouta again, 11th inning now for Chiben and Sakaguchi is up to bat. He takes the ball to the RCF gap for a leadoff double. Shibata is asked to put the bunt down, but he can’t!! They even have him try at 1-2, but he too fails there! That brings up Takahashi. This time Chiben’s manager has him swing away. Then, on the 1-0 pitch he gets a hold of one left over the plate and drives it to the left field wall!! Sakaguchi comes in to score on the double! After the play is over, Ujiyamada appeals to first that Sakaguchi didn’t touch first, and he is called out. And while Tanpo grounds to Kida Keita to end the inning, the damage is done. Chiben takes the 2-1 lead and Ujiyamada is down to their final 3 outs.

After Hirao grounds on the first pitch to Hayashi, Nakano (RF) hits one to Urata at 3rd. He goes to make the play and it’s through his legs and into left field!!! Nakano hustles to 2nd and they have a good opportunity to tie the game up! Nakano (1B) had that double earlier, but that was against Okada. He’s 0-2 with a K against Hayashi. And Hayashi has his number again as he flies to left. It’s all up to Shimizu now to extend the game. But he cannot as he grounds to Katsuya to end the game.

Chiben gets a big scare from Ujiyamada who takes them to 11 innings. But they move on to the round of 8, probably catching their breath in between.


Player Lines
Katsuya (Chiben) - 3-5, K
Takahashi (Chiben) - 2-4, K, game winning RBI
Okada (Chiben) - ND, 5.1IP, 1ER, 6H, 3K, 0BB
Hayashi (Chiben) - W, 5.2IP, 0ER, 3H, 5K, 2BB
Kida Kouta (Ujiyamada) - 2-4, HR, R, RBI, BB
Hirao (Ujiyamada) - 2-5, K
Hirao (Ujiyamada) – L, CG, 2ER, 10H, 12K, 3BB