It's Not The Winning That Counts, ........

......... but how you play the game.

Today was the first day when the team I was rooting for didn't win. But that's OK, because they played an incredible, nail biting game.

At first it seemed as if Chiben Gakuen weren't even trying to win. They were hopeless. They didn't score their first point until the fifth inning, by which point Hachinoe Gakuinkousei had already scored four points. Hachinoe then solidified their lead with a further three points at the top of the sixth inning. At seven points to one it looked hopeless for Chiben, but then, from somewhere, they suddenly found their form and scored a stunning seven points in the sixth inning to put themselves 8-7 ahead. Chiben retained that lead until the eighth inning when Hachinoe equalised. So, it was 8-8 going into the eighth inning. Hachinoe scored two more points and then their pitcher struck out all three Chiben batters to end the game 10-8 to Hachinoe.

There were obviously a lot of disappointed Chiben supporters in the crowd since, being from Nara, they are a relatively local team. However, the cheers for both teams were thunderous because they both played so incredibly well. I love this game!

The next game I watched, between Kamimura Gakuen and Takaoka Shougyou, was not as exciting as the previous game at first, but it got better as it progressed.The first point wasn't scored until the fourth inning when Takaoka scored two points. Kamimura replied with one point at the top of the seventh inning, but Takaoka scored one point immediately afterward, followed by another point in the eighth inning. So, going into the ninth inning, the score was 4-1 to Takaoka. But then, amazingly, Kamimura scored two points and were a hair's breadth away from equalising before Takaoka caught out their third player. The atmosphere in the stadium was electric! A bold effort by Kamimura, but a well-deserved 4-3 victory to Takaoka.

When I left the stadium at 6:30pm there were already people sitting outside of the stadium waiting to buy tickets to tomorrow's games. The first team to play will be Riseisha against Tsuda Gakuen. That is going to be a great game for sure, so I will get up at 5am tomorrow and wait outside of the stadium to purchase my ticket until the ticket booths open at 7am. How fortunate I am to have this wonderful venue just ten minutes walk away from my home.

When I returned home this evening I had an extremely refreshing bath with mint bath salts; perfect on a hot summer's day.

Win one for the Zipper