Masashi Tsumanuma singled in the winning run to cap a dramatic four-run ninth-inning rally as Tochigi's Bunsei Geidai Fuzoku beat Kanzei of Okayama 11-10 in the first round of the national high school championship on Tuesday.
Bunsei Geidai Fuzoku players celebrate after Kimio Watanabe scored the "sayonara" game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning of a first-round game againt Kanzei of Okayama at the national high school championship on Tuesday.
KYODO PHOTOShortstop Kimio Watanabe tied the game 10-10 with a two-out RBI single and center fielder Tsumanuma wrapped up his 3-for-5, five RBI outing with a game-ending hit on the third day of the 15-day tournament at Koshien Stadium.
In other first-round action, shortstop Koji Udaka hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the third and went 4-for-5 with three RBIs as Ehime's Imabari Nishi outslugged 2003 champion Joso Gakuin of Ibaraki 11-8.
Meanwhile, Nagano tournament debutant Matsushiro edged Tottori's Kurayoshi Kita 7-6, and Okinawa's Yaeyama Shoko rallied past Chiba Keidai Fuzoku 9-6 in 10 innings.