Taiwan won the Big League Baseball World Series, defeating Hawaii in the championship game in Easley, South Carolina, on Tuesday.
Taiwan were competing in the Little League Baseball (LLB) division for 15 to 18 year olds.
They beat the team from Hawaii representing the US West Region 6-2 in the title game to reclaim the world series title after 20 years.
Photo: CNA
Starting pitcher Chu Yi-sheng picked up the victory, going through seven innings to yield only two runs on three hits with seven strikeouts.
Chu’s teammates scored six runs on as many hits, with contributions from Lin Ching-kai and Cheng Chin, who each delivered two RBI’s.
They led 5-0, but Hawaii rallied for two runs in the bottom of sixth inning before Taiwan added another run in the seventh frame to round out the scoring.
Head coach Lo Chien-ming praised his starting pitcher.
“Chu gave an outstanding performance on the mound to shut down the opposition batters,” Lo said. “He and the other starting pitchers did a great job throughout this series to enable us to capture the championship.”
“It was a good team effort throughout, with the players providing run support by getting hits with runners on base when we needed them in the key games,” he said.
Lo also gave credit to ace pitcher Chang Chun-kai, who started in three games and was instrumental in the two encounters against tough foes Puerto Rico in round-robin play and in the playoff.
Taiwan won both encounters, with 7-0 and 3-0 the scorelines.
Taiwan earned the right to participate in the series by winning the Asia-Pacific Regional title.
The squad is composed of students from Ping Jen Senior High School, along with selected students from Shou Shan Senior High School and Affiliated Agricultural and Industrial Senior High School, all of which are in Taoyuan.
Taiwan’s youth baseball team in this age division earned 17 Big League championship titles from 1974 to 1996.
Since Taiwan returned to the LLB-Big League World Series in 2013, Taoyuan high schools have represented Taiwan in the tournament three times, claiming third place in 2013.
A team from Taichung representing Taiwan last year and also placed third, baseball officials said.
Taiwan’s baseball association dropped out of Little League Baseball competition in 1997 on differences over new rules, before returning 16 years later.
The Big League World Series is a US-based baseball tournament for students aged 15 to 18. The series has been running since 1968.
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