A clutch hit from Chiu Hsin in the bottom of the seventh inning on Saturday propelled defending champions Taiwan to a 2-1 victory over Italy in their WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup Group B opener in Sarasota, Florida.
Taiwan started strong, loading the bases on a single and two walks in the bottom of the first inning, but Italian starter Alessandro Ercolani pitched a timely strikeout to keep the runners at bay and allow his team to exit the inning unscathed.
Aside from a few wild spells early in the game, Ercolani had an excellent tournament debut, with just five hits in four innings, while giving up only one run in the fourth.
Photo courtesy of the Chinese Taipei Baseball Association via CNA
His solid performance was eclipsed by CPBL top draft pick Huang Pao-lo, who struck out seven and gave up only one hit over five innings.
Taiwan kept the opposition scoreless until the top of the sixth inning, when Italy capitalized on Huang’s walk with a single off reliever Lin Po-chun to tie the game 1-1.
In the bottom of the seventh, a lead-off double from third baseman Huang Chieh-hsi and the intentional walk of pinch hitter Zheng Jun-wei put runners on first and second. Chiu then sent a line drive to right field to bring home Huang Chieh-hsi and secure the win for Taiwan.
Taiwan, who won the tournament in 1983, 2010 and 2019, tallied seven hits to Italy’s three.
Closer Lin Sheng-en was the winning pitcher despite allowing two walks in his 1-1/3 innings on the mound.
Taiwan are now second behind Japan in Group B, which also includes Mexico, Panama, Italy and Australia, who Taiwan was to play yesterday.
Group A consists of Brazil, the US, Canada, South Korea, the Netherlands and South Africa.
After a round-robin first round, the top three sides from each group advance.
Taiwanese tennis star Hsieh Su-wei on Wednesday advanced to the second round of the mixed doubles at the French Open, after she and German partner Mark Wallner defeated Slovenian Andreja Klepac and Briton Lloyd Glasspool in straight sets, despite temperatures exceeding 32°C in Paris, while Taiwan’s top men’s doubles player Ray Ho also reached the second round. Hsieh, who made it to the semi-finals in the mixed doubles at Roland Garros in 2024, and Wallner defeated Klepac and Glasspool 6-3, 7-5 in just more than an hour, converting three of five break points, while holding their opponents to just one conversion
For some, Cristiano Ronaldo remains the essential spearhead for Portugal’s FIFA World Cup bid, while others believe his presence would prevent Roberto Martinez’s strong side from flourishing. The debate around the five-time Ballon d’Or winner rages on, as it did at UEFA Euro 2024 and four years ago in Qatar — yet Ronaldo endures, ready to play in a record sixth World Cup. The 41-year-old remains a global superstar despite swapping the European elite for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr, and is the leading men’s international goalscorer with 143 strikes. With 25 of those coming in 30 games under Martinez, the coach
BIG NAMES GONE: Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title, reaching semi-finals for the fifth time in six years and finishing second on three occasions Alexander Zverev on Tuesday breezed past Rafael Jodar to stay on course for an elusive Grand Slam title at the French Open, while Jakub Mensik halted Joao Fonseca’s scintillating run in the quarter-finals. Zverev, the highest-ranked player left in the men’s draw, put an end to Spanish teenager Jodar’s impressive Roland Garros debut, easing into the semi-finals with a 7-6, (7/3), 6-1, 6-3 win. The 29-year-old Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title. He has finished runner-up on three occasions, including at the 2024 French Open. “I want to win the matches that are ahead of
FAST AND LOOSE: Despite command struggles, Ohtani has pitched his way out of trouble after falling behind in counts, which manager Roberts credited to his velocity Shohei Ohtani on Wednesday night tossed six innings of no-hit ball, gave himself an early lead with a home run and still was not satisfied with his performance. The Los Angeles Dodgers’ two-way superstar dropped some expletives that were picked up by the on-field mic as he struggled with his command in a 4-1 win over the Colorado Rockies. He struck out seven, walked four and gave up an earned run in the fourth inning while visibly fuming on the mound. Ohtani (5-2) earned his third consecutive victory. “Just command was off, and I just felt like I was battling the lack of
RSS