Yusei Kikuchi started the semifinals game on Thursday against Morioka Chuo High School and went 7 innings while giving up 2 runs on 6 hits and struck out 10. He also topped out at 152km/h.

The game was called after 8 innings with the score 14-3 in favor of Hanamaki Higashi High School.

Incidentally, Morioka Chuo beat Hanamaki Higashi 3-0 last year in the quarterfinals. In that game, Kikuchi made an appearance in relief and went 6 innings while giving up 2 runs.

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14 scouts from the US and Japan were on hand to watch Kikuchi pitch.

Naoki Matsumoto (Lotte scount): "Most pitchers in high school lose about 4-5km/h from the set position. He has a very flexible body. I don't even know a lot of lefty pros that can throw 150km/h from the set position."