TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's baseball team secured a crucial spot in the super round Tuesday (Sept. 9) after defeating Germany 8-4 in the U18 World Cup Baseball preliminary round. The tournament, held in Okinawa, Japan, witnessed Taiwan finish second in Group B with an impressive 4-1 record, trailing only behind the United States team. The victory marked a significant milestone for Taiwan's young baseball talents on the international stage.
Taiwan surged ahead in a thrilling eighth inning, capitalizing on a crucial hit by Hsu Shu-cheng (許書誠) and a costly German error. The island's pitching staff dominated throughout the contest, collectively striking out 21 batters during the game. Starting pitcher Chung Yi-en (鍾亦恩) pitched just one inning and allowed two runs before Lai Chien-fan (賴謙凡), Su Lan-hung (蘇嵐鴻), and Lin Chun-hsi (林珺希) took over to secure the victory.
Taiwan's journey to the super round featured impressive victories over China, Panama, and Australia, with their sole defeat coming against the United States. The Group B leader, the United States, advanced to the next round with two victories, while Panama secured third place and moved forward despite suffering two losses. Group A witnessed Japan, South Korea, and Puerto Rico successfully advance to the tournament's next stage. ◼
