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Kuei-Shan team advances to World Series

Taiwanese player Tseng Hsin-han, center, celebrates for a TV camera as pitcher Sung Wen-hua, right, shakes hands with Mexico’s coach, left, in the Little League World Series international championship in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on Saturday. Taiwan won 9-4. PHOTO: AP

The Kuei-Shan little league baseball team from Taoyuan took advantage of six errors by Reynosa of Mexico and scratched out runs on a bunt single and a bases-loaded walk to win 9-4 and reach the Little League World Series final on Saturday.

Up next, a matchup with Chula Vista of California, which routed San Antonio of Texas 12-2 in a US pool final that ended after three innings because of the 10-run mercy rule.

Taiwan is in the final for the first time since it won in 1996.

It will be the first appearance for a California team since 2004.

Chula Vista will try to extend the US’ four-year winning streak in the World Series title game.

A mix of Mexico miscues and six-hit pitching by 12-year-old starter Sung Wen-hua lifted Taiwan in an international pool final delayed twice by rain. Sung struck out nine for his second win of the tournament.

Chin Ou scored on the bases-loaded walk in the fourth inning, then smacked a two-run double in the sixth that gave Taiwan a four-run cushion.

Trailing 9-2 entering the sixth, Mexico scored two runs on a groundout and an infield single by Marcelo Martinez before Sung struck out Allan Wilburn to end it.

Luis Trevino paced Mexico’s offense with three hits and two runs.

Andy Rios hit a grand slam in a nine-run first inning for Chula Vista.

Luke Ramirez had a three-run shot and Bulla Graft connected for the first of his two homers in Chula Vista’s big first inning.

Meanwhile, US Vice President Joe Biden planned to attend the Little League World Series yesterday, when he is enshrined into Little League’s Hall of Excellence.

The White House gave Little League the heads-up on Friday.

Little League announced before the series started that they were honoring Biden.

The vice president grew up in Scranton, where he played in the Green Ridge Little League, about 160km east of Little League’s South Williamsport headquarters.
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