Have you heard the one about the two Japanese high school teams who walk onto a field, but one of them forgets to bring their bats and gloves?  No?  Neither have I.  However, it might have happened late last week in Tokyo, where a Japanese high school baseball team, Shunshukan, defeated a Kawamoto technical high school by 9 touchdowns and a field goal… in 2 innings. ÂÂ

A Japanese high school pleaded for a regional baseball game to be abandoned after surrendering 66 runs in less than two innings, local media reported on Thursday.  The coach of Kawamoto technical high school threw in the towel to spare his pitcher’s arm with his team losing 66-0 with just one batter out in the bottom of the second.

The Kawamoto pitcher threw 250 pitches through 2 innings, and gave up 26 runs in the 1st frame and 40 in the 2nd before hitting the showers of humility.

The kicker for our pitcher and his rubber arm is the fact that the opponents at Shunshukan were credited with a 9-0 victory.  Yes; 9-0!  You know, it would have been awfully nice for the umpiring crew or high school officials to award the 9-0 victory when it was, oh,  I don’t know, 9-0 – give or take 10 runs.  Maybe save the kid 150 pitches. Â It’s also apparent Kawamoto needs Mr. Baseball - he really understands the culture and possesses raw power (and rampant chest hair).

Japan baseball team hits 66 runs in two innings [Reuters]