FUKUOKA – Today (7/2) marked the day of second round in Fukuoka summer preliminary tournament, including the game of Fukuoka’s powerhouse Fukuoka University Ohori High (Fukudai Ohori). In second round, they faced against small team of public school Kishokan High. Within a least number of members, they still manage to hold Fukudai Ohori very well at the first two innings.
Kishokan’s starting pitcher is Masunaga, and he handled the early inning very well. Rather than looked like under-experienced pitcher, he shows such a composure play up in the mound, completed each innings without giving any hit or run. But then the game start to move on by the bottom of third.
Fukudai Ohori moved the game by a single
hit, then continue to utilize their most ultimate skills : steals strategy. In
the most perfect timing, Ohori members stole second base even twice in an
inning and start to flustered opponent’s focus in the game. By such strategy, Fukudai
Ohori manages to get at least 3 runs first in third inning.
The game continues on next inning. Although
Kishokan always being faced with a pinch situation of one out base-loaded in
every next innings, they can manage to survive from the critical situation. But
the only inning they can avoid from opponent to score a run is fourth.
In the bottom of fifth and sixth, Fukudai
Ohori scored runs again. Three, and then one run, total in seven runs allowed
to the Fukudai Ohori’s team. And if they can’t score even one run in the
seventh, the game will be running their mercy rule of the tournament.
For your information, ‘The Mercy Rule’ in high
school baseball is a condition where opponent who leads the score with a
certain gap of run will end the game in a form of called game. Ten gaps of runs
will call the game in fifth inning, while seven gaps of runs will call the game
in seventh inning. If the opposite can’t manage to score any run in the called
innings, they will have to face the reality to end their ‘summer’ sooner than
other team.
But miracle always happens in high school
baseball.
In fact, that game will be such a big
record for Hirakawa, the starting pitcher of Fukudai Ohori. Because he will
complete a perfect game until seventh, with no hit and no run which he hasn’t
allowed yet to Kishokan. One last batter to end and he will complete it. But
the situation changed so quickly, when the ‘last batter’ managed to hit off
from Hirakawa, leaving the perfect record only until 6 2/3 IP.
After that hit, the next batter connected
the lineup by an unexpected two-base hit, and situation has been changing into
two out and runner on second and third base. But that only last for a while,
when Hirakawa stole the last strikeout from next batter, and game set with a
result of 7-0. Kishokan have to leave their ‘summer stage’ to the end so early.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kishokan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fukudai Ohori | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | X | 7 |
We have seen the ending through each team’s
record, but for me, it was such an interesting and exciting game of the day.
When Kishokan’s members lined up neatly during the closing of the game to salute
together with Ohori members, I just realized they have less member than Ohori’s
one. As the closing end, when all teams back to their cheering side and dugout,
I clapped together along with the cheering side of both teams.
Summer is still going on for another side.
For the following game's playback : https://sports.yahoo.co.jp/livestream/vk/hsblocal/C240032