Pitchers face off for the Bulls and Lions in new CPBL rivalry

Tsai Chung-nan pitches for Taiwan at the Baseball World Cup at the end of last year in Taipei. PHOTO: CHU YU-PING, TAIPEI TIMES

Rivalries part and parcel of every sport and baseball in Taiwan is no different.

The intense competition between the Brother Elephants and the now dissolved Weichuan Dragons at the old Taipei Stadium thrilled fans years ago.

Now it is the Elephants and President Lions that attract the most fervent support, but another rivalry between two former allies is generating intense interest.

Tsai Chung-nan ((蔡仲南) of the Sinon Bulls and Tzeng Yee-cheng(曾翊誠) of the Lions now oppose each other in the CPBL, but they used to be classmates.

With the help of Tsai, who was a first-round pick in the this year's draft, the Bulls have made a charge to the top of the standings.

Tzeng the Lions' overall first pick two years ago and since then has become the Tainan club's brightest asset.

Both players have made special contributions to their respective teams, but their rivalry began at the school where they both learned their trade.

In Taiwan there is a "senior-junior schoolmate" concept, which basically means that seniority rather than talent is the factor for "respect."

Tsai at Taipei Physical Education Junior College (now the Taipei Physical Education College) first and became a key player on the team, when Tzeng joined the school and, though a rookie, became Tsai's senior schoolmate.

The two shared the same dorm room, worked out together and pitched as a team.

It did not last however, as the two friends drifted apart and then fell out with each other.

There have been many rumors about their antagonism to each other since then and Tsai is said not to recognize Tzeng as a former schoolmate.

Partly a result, games between the Bulls and Lions have become needle matches.

TML News

Taichung and Taipei batters combined to set a record in futility on March 31, playing to a 0-0 tie in 12 innings.

It was the first scoreless draw to go the full distance allowed under TML rules.

The two sides combined without success to strike out 23 times, with Taichung starter Huang Chin-chih getting 14 to set a TML league record for local pitchers.

Among the Latin and North American imports with the Taichung Agan roster this year are Victor Cepeda and Juan Quintanilla. Cepeda pitched last year for Carolina in the Puerto Rican League while Quintanilla was 4-2 during the regular season for Taichung last year.

Quintanilla a complete game to win Game 6 of last season's TML Championship series to give Taichung the title.