Hokuetsu Advances to Finals After Nail-Biting Victory; Sekine Gakuen to Face Chuetsu at 12:30
In a thrilling semi-final match of the 152nd Hokushinetsu High School Baseball/Niigata Prefectural Tournament, held at Nagaoka City Yukuyama Stadium, Hokuetsu secured their spot in the finals in a closely contested 4-3 win over Niigata Meikun.
“Meikun put up a great fight, but Ushigi from Hokuetsu was instrumental in shutting down their offense in the final innings. The game was intense, and the outcome was in doubt until the very end.” — Anonymous Scout
Hokuetsu’s Meikun defense held strong, with timely stops and smart plays that kept the game within reach. The winning run came in the top of the 9th inning, thanks to a clutch double by Togashi, scoring both Sato Aoi and Shindo. In the previous inning, Hokuetsu’s offense erupted for two runs, powered by a double from pitcher Shindo and a sacrifice fly by Kasahara.
- **Hokuetsu:**
- Starting Pitcher: Aoki (Win)
- Key Hitters: Togashi (2-for-4, 2 RBI), Shindo (2-for-3, 1 RBI), Kasahara (1-for-3, 1 RBI)
- **Niigata Meikun:**
- Starting Pitcher: Tsujibayashi (Loss)
- Key Hitters: Gonpei (2-for-3, 1 RBI), Yamaguchi (2-for-3), Imai (2-for-3, 1 RBI)
In the second semi-final match of the day, Chuetsu will face off against Sekine Gakuen at 12:30 PM. This matchup promises to be an exciting contest between two strong teams, with the winner set to face the victor of the Hokuetsu-Meikun match in the finals.
- Hokuetsu has reached the finals of this prestigious tournament.
- Meikun’s coach, after the game, praised Hokuetsu’s resilience and thanked his team for their valiant effort.
- This is the third time in five years that Hokuetsu has reached the finals of this tournament.
**Pro Tip:** Keep an eye out for Hokuetsu’s batters, particularly Togashi and Shindo, who had breakout performances in the semi-final win.
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