Taiwan advanced from the group stages at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup undefeated following a 10-6 win on Wednesday over Panama in Sarasota, Florida.
Group B winners Taiwan were to face the US, the winners of Group A, in their opening super round match, which was to begin after press time last night Taiwan time.
The top two sides from the round-robin super round — which also features Japan, South Korea, Mexico and the Netherlands — are to advance to the tournament’s championship game, with the third and fourth-placed teams battling it out in the bronze medal match.
Photo: CNA
On Wednesday, Taiwan had the corners loaded at the top of the first inning when center fielder Chiu Hsin scored off a sacrifice fly to center field from shortstop Liu Chun-wei.
Panama answered in the bottom of the first with runs from designated hitter Alexander Jose Chavez Arauz, third baseman Eric Antonio Guevara Arosemena, right fielder Angel Alfredo Rodriguez Moreno and left fielder Roger Joel Lasso Pineda to take the lead.
Taiwan hit back hard in the top of the second inning to restore their lead, with catcher Wu Po-hsuan, first baseman Yang Chun-hao, Chiu, left fielder Chen Chih-yu and Liu making it round the bases.
Just when Taiwan thought they had the game under control, Panama evened the score 6-6 in the bottom of the second after runs from second baseman Luis Enrique Escudero Ortiz and Chavez.
However, Taiwan took the final lead 10-6 in the top of the third with four runs from pinch-runner Zheng Jun-wei, Chen, right fielder Sun Yi-lei, and designated hitter and pitcher Yang Nien-hsi.
Shu Chi-hao was credited with the win after taking the mound in the bottom of the fourth and pitching two scoreless innings, with Sun tallying a total of four RBIs.
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