Taiwan on Sunday defeated Japan 6-1 to clinch the nation’s first U-18 Asian Baseball Championship since 2007 in a rain-interrupted showdown at Taipei’s Tianmu Stadium.
Taiwan came from behind after shortstop Yusei Ishizuka’s RBI put Japan ahead 1-0 in the first inning.
In the top of the third inning, outfielder Ko Ching-hsien (柯敬賢) hit an RBI triple to left-center field to tie the game, before a sacrifice fly from Tseng Wei-che (曾偉喆) pulled Taiwan ahead 2-1.
Photo: CNA
In the top of the fifth, Ko, who signed to the Los Angeles Dodgers in June, hit a sacrifice fly to widen the gap to 3-1.
Taiwan added another three runs in the top of the sixth and seventh, giving them a healthy lead that they kept until the end.
Sunday’s championship game, interrupted twice due to on-and-off heavy rain, was sweet revenge for Taiwan, who lost 1-0 to Japan on Friday during the Super Round.
Photo: CNA
It was Taiwan’s only loss of the tournament, after they were undefeated in the opening round.
This year is the third time Taiwan has won the tournament, following victories in 2001 and 2007.
Taiwan, Japan and South Korea have dominated the tournament since its inception in 1994, with Japan and South Korea both winning five titles and Taiwan four.
Earlier on Sunday, South Korea crushed the Philippines 8-0 to finish third in the eight-team tournament, which also featured Pakistan, Thailand, Hong Kong and Sri Lanka.
The top three finishers qualify for next year’s U-18 Baseball World Cup.
Meanwhile, at the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup in Shaoxing, China, Taiwan have not fared as well as their younger compatriots, facing potential elimination after losing their first three games in Group B of the opening round.
Taiwan on Sunday were pipped 4-3 by Nicaragua, after losing 7-5 to the Netherlands on Saturday and 3-1 to South Korea on Friday, the opening day of the tournament at Shaoxing Baseball and Softball Sports Culture Center.
Taiwan last night were to play South Africa, who are also tied at the bottom of the group with three losses.
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday at the Presidential Office met with the national baseball teams competing in the Little League World Series, Junior League Baseball World Series and U-15 Baseball World Cup, who snatched gold, silver and bronze respectively.
“You strive for honor for yourselves and the country, and the country shines because of you,” Lai said, calling them “heroes of Taiwan.”
Lee Cheng-da (李政達), who coached the team that competed in the Little League World Series, always motivates players to be brave and fearless, to fight to the end, to believe in their teammates and to enjoy the game, Lai said, adding his warm and positive attitude has moved many and set an example for all baseball coaches working at grass-roots level.
Separately, the Executive Yuan yesterday held the first advisory meeting in preparation for the establishment of the Ministry of Sports and Sports Development, with Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) expressing the hope that it could be operational next year.
The Executive Yuan also announced the 48 members to serve on the advisory group, including boxer Lin Yu-ting (林郁婷), retired tennis player Lu Yen-hsun (盧彥勳), retired badminton player Lee Yang (李洋), table tennis player Chuang Chih-yuan (莊智淵), judoka Lien Chen-ling (連珍羚), weightlifter Kuo Hsing-chun (郭婞淳), archer Lei Chien-ying (雷千瑩), soccer commentator Max Shih (石明謹), Taiwan Baseball Hall of Fame chairman George Chao (趙士強) and e-sports player Bruce Hsiang (向玉麟).
Additional reporting by Chen Yun and CNA
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