Taiwan finished fourth at this year’s U-12 Baseball World Cup on Sunday, following a 0-2 loss to South Korea in the bronze medal game at the Asia-Pacific International Baseball Complex in Tainan.
The hosts ended their tournament run just shy of the podium, while South Korea claimed the bronze medal in the biennial World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) championship.
Both teams showcased strong defense in the early innings, with neither side scoring in the first two frames. Taiwan’s starting pitcher, Zhong Ding-xu, made a powerful opening statement by striking out all three Korean batters in the first and second innings.
Photo: Chang Hsin-wei, CNA
South Korea broke the deadlock in the top of the third when infielder Kang Giung crossed home plate for the game’s first run, making it 1-0. Taiwan failed to respond in the bottom half of the inning, and the fourth inning remained scoreless for both teams.
In the top of the fifth, South Korea extended its lead to 2-0 when catcher Min Dongh-yeon scored on an RBI single by outfielder Ha Jeong-woo. Taiwan could not find an answer in the final innings, falling short of a comeback on home turf.
The loss came just one day after Taiwan crushed South Korea 11-5 in the super round, a dramatic game that was extended from six innings to nine after the teams finished regulation tied at 2-2.
Photo: Chang Hsin-wei, CNA
Taiwan then pulled ahead decisively, scoring seven runs in the top of the ninth and holding South Korea to just one in the bottom frame, sealing an 11-5 victory
Despite that high note, Taiwan was unable to replicate Saturday’s offensive momentum in Sunday’s playoff.
However, Saturday’s win also came with consequences, as the WBSC penalized Taiwan coach Chang Tzu-chien with a one-game suspension.
Photo: Chang Hsin-wei, CNA
The confederation ruled that Chang had contravened pitching regulations by sending reliever Huang Yu-qian to the mound in the bottom of the ninth inning.
As Huang had thrown 53 pitches on Thursday, he was ineligible to pitch under WBSC rules, which mandate a two-day rest period for pitchers who throw between 46 and 60 pitches.
Huang was also unable to pitch in Taiwan’s bronze-medal match on Sunday, which the team lost.
The loss was the first time Taiwan did not finish in the top three at the U-12 Baseball World Cup since its inception in 2011.
Meanwhile, Sunday was a historic achievement for South Korea, as it was the first time that they reached the top three at the tournament.
While South Korea took third place, the US defended their title for a second consecutive time, defeating Japan 7-1 in Sunday’s championship game.
Taiwan had lost to the three-time champions in the 2023 final to take second place. The US also beat Taiwan in the final in 2013, 2015 and 2017.
Taiwan previously won the U-12 Baseball World Cup twice — first in the inaugural edition in 2011 and again in 2019.
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