Hsinchu City scrapped their way into the second round of the E.Sun Cup by topping Chiayi County 4-1 in the final game of the losers’ bracket in Group A at National Taiwan University of Physical Education and Sport in Taichung yesterday afternoon.
The rain-shortened affair which went the minimum five innings following a three-hour delay saw the victors strike the first blow in the bottom of the first inning when starter Chuang Wei-en helped his own cause by leading off the game with a single and scoring on a double by Yang Yi-ming to spot himself a quick 1-0 advantage.
Hsinchu added to their lead an inning later when Chuang connected for his second hit of the game to drive in their second run, before Hsieh Po-ya’s two-run double made it 4-0 in the bottom of the second inning.
Following a 40-minute rain delay that might have affected Chuang’s throwing arm, Chiayi County finally strung together three two-out hits in the top of the third to score their first run of the game.
That was the lone run Chiayi plated against Chuang, who managed to pitch out of trouble by stranding all by one of seven runners who reached safely against him for what ended up being a complete-game victory.
All eight qualifiers for the second round have today off to travel north where they are to play a three-game round in which the top four finishers are to move on to Friday’s semi-finals and play for the right for a spot in Saturday’s title game.
The winners of the tournament earn the right to represent Taiwan in the Under-18 Baseball World Cup in Osaka, Japan, in August and September.
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