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Nile C. Kinnick right-hander Erika Farrelly delivers against Robert D. Edgren  during Friday's pool-play game in the DODDS Japan high school softball tournament at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Kinnick won 20-11 to clinch top spot in Pool B and one of two top seeds entering the single-elimination portion of the event that began later Friday.

Nile C. Kinnick right-hander Erika Farrelly delivers against Robert D. Edgren during Friday's pool-play game in the DODDS Japan high school softball tournament at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Kinnick won 20-11 to clinch top spot in Pool B and one of two top seeds entering the single-elimination portion of the event that began later Friday. (Nathaniel Punla/Special to Stars and Stripes)

Nile C. Kinnick right-hander Erika Farrelly delivers against Robert D. Edgren  during Friday's pool-play game in the DODDS Japan high school softball tournament at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Kinnick won 20-11 to clinch top spot in Pool B and one of two top seeds entering the single-elimination portion of the event that began later Friday.

Nile C. Kinnick right-hander Erika Farrelly delivers against Robert D. Edgren during Friday's pool-play game in the DODDS Japan high school softball tournament at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Kinnick won 20-11 to clinch top spot in Pool B and one of two top seeds entering the single-elimination portion of the event that began later Friday. (Nathaniel Punla/Special to Stars and Stripes)

Robert D. Edgren's Natalie Rodeman crosses the plate against Nile C. Kinnick  during Friday's pool-play game in the DODDS Japan high school softball tournament at Yokota Air Base, Japan. It was not enough as Kinnick won 20-11 to clinch top spot in Pool B and one of two top seeds entering the single-elimination portion of the event that began later Friday.

Robert D. Edgren's Natalie Rodeman crosses the plate against Nile C. Kinnick during Friday's pool-play game in the DODDS Japan high school softball tournament at Yokota Air Base, Japan. It was not enough as Kinnick won 20-11 to clinch top spot in Pool B and one of two top seeds entering the single-elimination portion of the event that began later Friday. (Nathaniel Punla/Special to Stars and Stripes)

Yokota's Anysia Torres crosses the plate against Robert D. Edgren during Friday's playoff game in the DODDS Japan high school softball tournament at  Yokota Air Base, Japan. It was not enough as Edgren won 18-12.

Yokota's Anysia Torres crosses the plate against Robert D. Edgren during Friday's playoff game in the DODDS Japan high school softball tournament at Yokota Air Base, Japan. It was not enough as Edgren won 18-12. (Tyler Espinoza/Special to Stars and Stripes)

E.J. King's Jaenalyn Laurente crosses the plate against Zama during Friday's playoff game in the DODDS Japan high school softball tournament at Yokota Air Base, Japan. King beat Zama 11-4.

E.J. King's Jaenalyn Laurente crosses the plate against Zama during Friday's playoff game in the DODDS Japan high school softball tournament at Yokota Air Base, Japan. King beat Zama 11-4. (Tyler Espinoza/Special to Stars and Stripes)

Yokota right-hander Leo Austin delivers against Nile C. Kinnick during Friday's round-robin game in the DODDS Japan high school baseball tournament at  Camp Zama, Japan. Kinnick and Yokota played to a 2-2 tie, in a game that ended in the sixth inning due to tournament rules regarding game time and individual pitching limits per day for each pitcher.

Yokota right-hander Leo Austin delivers against Nile C. Kinnick during Friday's round-robin game in the DODDS Japan high school baseball tournament at Camp Zama, Japan. Kinnick and Yokota played to a 2-2 tie, in a game that ended in the sixth inning due to tournament rules regarding game time and individual pitching limits per day for each pitcher. (Kayla Bodwin/Special to Stars and Stripes)

Nile C. Kinnick's Daniel Ross delivers against Yokota during Friday's round-robin game in the DODDS Japan high school baseball tournament at Camp Zama, Japan. Kinnick and Yokota played to a 2-2 tie, in a game that ended in the sixth inning due to tournament rules regarding game time and individual pitching limits per day for each pitcher.

Nile C. Kinnick's Daniel Ross delivers against Yokota during Friday's round-robin game in the DODDS Japan high school baseball tournament at Camp Zama, Japan. Kinnick and Yokota played to a 2-2 tie, in a game that ended in the sixth inning due to tournament rules regarding game time and individual pitching limits per day for each pitcher. (Kayla Bodwin/Special to Stars and Stripes)

M.C. Perry pitcher Austin Macias posted two strikeouts and gave up four earned runs in a 4-0 DODDS Japan Tournament loss to Robert C. Edgren on Friday at Camp Zama, Japan.

M.C. Perry pitcher Austin Macias posted two strikeouts and gave up four earned runs in a 4-0 DODDS Japan Tournament loss to Robert C. Edgren on Friday at Camp Zama, Japan. (James Kimber/Stars and Stripes)

Robert C. Edgren starting pitcher Izzy Leon shows his unique delivery during a 4-0 win Friday over M.C. Perry in the DODDS Japan Tournament at Camp Zama, Japan. The right-hander gave up four hits and two walks and struck out two in 21/3 innings, but managed to hold Perry to zero runs.

Robert C. Edgren starting pitcher Izzy Leon shows his unique delivery during a 4-0 win Friday over M.C. Perry in the DODDS Japan Tournament at Camp Zama, Japan. The right-hander gave up four hits and two walks and struck out two in 21/3 innings, but managed to hold Perry to zero runs. (James Kimber/Stars and Stripes)

Robert C. Edgren left-handed pitcher Isaac Victorino came in relief to hold M.C. Perry to zero runs on one hit while striking out four in 22/3 innings of work in the 4-0 victory over the Samurai on Friday during the DODDS Japan Tournament at Camp Zama, Japan.

Robert C. Edgren left-handed pitcher Isaac Victorino came in relief to hold M.C. Perry to zero runs on one hit while striking out four in 22/3 innings of work in the 4-0 victory over the Samurai on Friday during the DODDS Japan Tournament at Camp Zama, Japan. (James Kimber/Stars and Stripes)

M.C. Perry knuckleballer Laramie Billups came in relief down 4-0 to Robert C. Edgren during the DODDS Japan Tournament at Camp Zama, Japan, on Friday, April 18, 2014. Billups didn't give up a run in 2 innings.

M.C. Perry knuckleballer Laramie Billups came in relief down 4-0 to Robert C. Edgren during the DODDS Japan Tournament at Camp Zama, Japan, on Friday, April 18, 2014. Billups didn't give up a run in 2 innings. (James Kimber/Stars and Stripes)

Yokota right-hander Leon Austin strikes out Nile C. Kinnick's Bradley Burt during the DODDS Japan Tournament at Camp Zama, Japan April on Friday. Austin struck out 10 in a game that ended in a 2-2 tie.

Yokota right-hander Leon Austin strikes out Nile C. Kinnick's Bradley Burt during the DODDS Japan Tournament at Camp Zama, Japan April on Friday. Austin struck out 10 in a game that ended in a 2-2 tie. (James Kimber/Stars and Stripes)

Nile C. Kinnick ace Daniel Ross fires a fastball at Yokota leadoff hitter Clay Brownell during the DODDS Japan Tournament at Camp Zama, Japan on Friday. Ross would strike out 10 Panthers in a complete game that ended in a 2-2 tie.

Nile C. Kinnick ace Daniel Ross fires a fastball at Yokota leadoff hitter Clay Brownell during the DODDS Japan Tournament at Camp Zama, Japan on Friday. Ross would strike out 10 Panthers in a complete game that ended in a 2-2 tie. (James Kimber/Stars and Stripes)

Yokota right fielder Marcus Henagan squares up on a pitch Friday during the DODDS Japan Tournament at Camp Zama, Japan. Henagan, who legged out an inside-the-ballpark home run the day before, went 0-3 with two strikeouts against the Red Devils.

Yokota right fielder Marcus Henagan squares up on a pitch Friday during the DODDS Japan Tournament at Camp Zama, Japan. Henagan, who legged out an inside-the-ballpark home run the day before, went 0-3 with two strikeouts against the Red Devils. (James Kimber/Stars and Stripes)

CAMP ZAMA, Japan – What’s a good DODDS Japan baseball tournament without some rain?

For the third straight year, the tournament has been affected by the wet stuff. Three games were canceled Friday due to overnight and morning rain; they will not be rescheduled, officials said.

The tourney was completed despite rain a year ago, with Nile C. Kinnick winning the round robin-style event; the last day of the 2012 tournament was abandoned due to rain and wet grounds.

“What can you do? It’s Japan, and in Japan it rains,” Red Devils coach Charles Stark said. “The coaches have been great about it. Not much you can do. It’s just unfortunate.”

Stark spoke after his Red Devils played Yokota in a game that ended in a 2-2 six-inning draw due to tournament time-limit rules.

Kinnick and Yokota right-handers Daniel Ross and Leo Austin, who combined to allow three hits and strike out 20, would have reached their seven-inning limit had they gone another inning, meaning they could not pitch Saturday.

The game was reminiscent of the Kinnick-Yokota matchup played in the same time slot on the tournament’s second day last year. In that one, Ross outpitched Kei DePontbriand 5-1, a win that effectively clinched the tournament for the Red Devils.

“It’s a great rivalry,” Stark said. “We beat them, they beat us. They have a great program. We’re just trying to build a program.”

Because of the wet weather, canceled games pitting Yokota vs. Robert D. Edgren, Zama American vs. Matthew C. Perry and E.J. King vs. Kinnick will not be rescheduled, tournament director Scott Bolin said.

The tie worked to the benefit of host Zama, which vaulted atop the tournament heap at 2-0 after two days’ play, beating E.J. King 11-1 in four innings in Friday’s last game. Yokota and Kinnick follow closely behind at 1-0-1; they each play Zama on Saturday.

While rain also fell on the DODDS Japan softball tournament at Yokota, that event went on uninterrupted through a light drizzle all day. Despite the rain, there were no puddles or injuries, event organizer and chief umpire Kelly Cook said.

Zama and Kinnick each garnered top pool seeds and first-round byes into the tournament’s single-elimination playoff, but E.J. King downed Zama 11-4 in Friday’s semifinal at Yokota’s Headley Field, reaching Saturday’s championship against two-time defending champion Kinnick.

Another brand of Cobra struck on the pitch at Korea’s Camp Carroll. E.J. King’s boys, behind Thomas McGrath’s four goals, won their second straight after opening with five losses. The Cobras blanked Daegu 5-0.

“We have momentum now,” Cobras coach Mark Constantine said. “They’re coming together.”

Staff writer Dave Ornauer contributed to this report.

kimber.james@stripes.com

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