Backed by a strong outing by Ito (伊藤直輝), Nihon Bunri beat Ken Gifu Sho, 2-1.

Nihon Bunri took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 5th when Kitte (切手孝太) led off the inning with a triple and came around to score on J. Takahashi's (高橋隼之介) line single to right. They tacked on another run in the bottom of the 6th after Ito (伊藤直輝) led off with a double and, 2 outs later, scored on Nakamura's (中村大地) single into right.

Ken Gifu Sho did make things interesting in the top of the 9th. After the first batter struck out, Ikai (井貝星良) reached with a single. Yamada (山田智弘) was up next and Ito struck him out. Ken Gifu Sho then sent in pinch-hitter Furukawa (古川隼也) to keep the inning going, but he did more than just that: he jumped all over the first pitch he saw and hit it over the left fielder's head for a double, scoring Ikai all the way from first. But Ito kept his cool and and got Izumida (泉田純弥) to ground out to short to end the game.

Key Offensive Players
Ken Gifu Sho: Ikai (井貝星良) 1-for-3, BB, R; Furukawa (古川隼也) 1-for-1, 2B, RBI

Nihon Bunri: J. Takahashi (高橋隼之介) 1-for-4, RBI; Y. Takahashi (高橋義人) 2-for-4; Nakamura (中村大地) 2-for-4, RBI

Ken Gifu Sho

Nihon Bunri

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This game was pretty much over after Chukyodai Chukyo put up a 5-spot in the bottom of the 4th that included a solo homer by Isomura (磯村嘉孝), an RBI single by Yamanaka (山中渉伍), and a 3-run triple by Kawai (河合完治).

But to be entirely honest, I think I kept thinking that Hanamaki Higashi might be able to pull off some sort of amazing upset until about the 5th or 6th inning, about the time I think the offense really started to sputter: Hanamaki Higashi went down in order in the 5th and the 6th inning ended with Sarukawa trying to stretch a single into a double (although a case could be made that it was a good risk to take).

When Hanamaki finally did manage to push a run across the board, it was in the top of the 7th and the run scored when Sasaki (佐々木大樹) grounded into a 5-4-3 double play.

Sad to see Hanamaki Higashi eliminated, but it was probably for the best.

Key Offensive Players
Hanamaki Higashi: Sarukawa (猿川拓朗) 3-for-3, BB; Chiba (千葉祐輔) 2-for-3

Chukyodai Chukyo: Kunitomo (国友賢司) 1-for-2, HBP, BB, 2 R; Kawai (河合完治) 3-for-5, 2 3B, HR, 2 R, 5 RBI; Isomura (磯村嘉孝) 1-for-3, HR, R, 2 RBI; Ito (伊藤隆比古) 1-for-4, BB, HR, R, RBI; Kanayama (金山篤未) 2-for-3, BB, HR, 2 R, RBI

Hanamaki Higashi

Chukyodai Chukyo

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Some other news and notes:

...And then there were 2...

...Sanspo has pictures from the stands from Day 14.

...If you're at the Koshien, you might want to think about picking up a Hermann Dog (500yen). Vendors are currently selling about 200 of these a day.

The Hermann Dog is modeled after the first hot dog that was sold in Japan back in 1934. That hot dog was created by Hermann Friedrich Wolschke, a sausage maker from Germany.

...Nihon Bunri manager Michio Ohi wasn't feeling well after the game and was diagnosed with a minor heat stroke.

...Ken Gifu Sho ace, Tomohiro Yamada, was taking pain-killers for most of the tournament due to a bruised right index finger he suffered during the Gifu Tournament that never had a chance to heal.

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What's on tap tomorrow:

13:00 - Nihon Bunri vs Chukyodai Chukyo

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