The Herbalife Cup, the nation’s annual Little League Championship tournament, began in Taipei this weekend with 13 teams vying for the title and higher honors.
Chinese Taipei Baseball Association secretary-general Richard Lin said developing more young players was important for the sport.
“Baseball is Taiwan’s national sport. Competition at the Little League level is very important because it is the foundation for our youth baseball and international competitiveness. Scouts look to Little League games to discover and cultivate star players,” Lin said.
Photo courtesy of CTBA
He said that international honors are at stake in this year’s Herbalife Cup, because the tournament’s top-performing players will be selected for an all-star national squad that will represent Taiwan at the Baseball Federation of Asia’s 12U Asian Baseball Championship, which is scheduled to start in the Philippines later this year.
In the Herbalife Cup, participating teams are divided into two groups in which they play a round-robin with a double-defeat elimination format.
Group A has four teams who are expected to do well: Taipei, Greater Kaohsiung, New Taipei City and Greater Tainan.
Group B is expected to be a contest between east coast rivals Hualien County and Taitung County, with Greater Taichung also a threat.
In yesterday’s opener, Greater Kaohsiung and Hualien County both won 6-2 over Taipei and Taoyuan County respectively.
New Taipei City won with their last at-bat 7-6 over Nantou County, and Hsinchu County defeated Yilan County 6-1 to complete yesterday’s games.
The sentimental favorite is Chiayi County in Group A, which is the birthplace of the renowned Kano team, the high-school squad who reached the final of Japan’s Koshien tournament in 1931.
Kano director Umin Boya was at the opening ceremony of the Herbalife Cup on Friday.
After the opening ceremony, players and coaching staff from 13 teams were treated to a screening of Kano at the Core Pacific Mall in Taipei.
Finals are scheduled for Saturday next weekend, including a third-place game, at Taipei City’s Youth Park baseball field in Wanhua District.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely