Chinese Taipei: the power guns of the U-12 Baseball World Cup super round

Chinese Taipei struggled at bat for the first couple of innings against Korea, but ended up walking it off 11-1 in 5 innings. Once again the hosts of the U-12 Baseball World Cup showed outstanding home run power.

Korea didn’t waste any time against Chinese Taipei starter Yang Sheng Wei. With one out, right fielder Song Seung Min singled to center field and made it to third on consecutive wild pitches. He scored when center fielder Jang Jeongu grounded out to third.
Korea’s defense backed starter Lee Sunwoo properly, but even the best fielders couldn’t have stopped the towering fly ball that Chinese Taipei third baseman Han Shuo Heng sent over the right field fence for a solo homer with 2 outs in the bottom of the third. Once tied, Chinese Taipei went for the lead. Designated hitter Pan Chen An and second baseman Sun Yi Lei hit back to back singles. Right fielder Hsu Chia Chin slow roller to second put some pressure on Korea’s defense. Second baseman Yook Sunyeop missed the throw to first and both Pan and Sun scored, making a 3-1 lead for Chinese Taipei. Hsu was the third out, trying to reach third.

Yang Sheng Wei was Chinese Taipei starting pitcher

Once Jang Jeongu led off the fourth drawing a walk and catcher Woo Jeonggyu followed with a base hit, Korea tried to build on that through the running game. With runners at the corners, Lee Sunwoo (had reached on a fielder’s choice) was caught stealing by Chinese Taipei catcher Chiu Guan Wei.Jang Jeongu was trapped between third and home and became the third out after a play perfectly executed by Yang Sheng Wei, Chiu Guan Wei and Han Shuo Heng.
With 2 outs in the bottom of the fourth, Chiu Guan Wei doubled and advanced to third on a balk. Shortstop Yang Yi Cheng singled up the middle to score him. Chinese Taipei were not done: center fielder Tseng Yi Wei was all over Lee Sunwoo second pitch and drove it over the fence in dead center for a 2 run homer, extending the lead to 6-1.

Chinese Taipei cut it short in the bottom of the fifth with a display of power that was just as impressive as the one against USA. Kim Jiwook, the third pitcher by Korea, couldn’t get an out. Pai Chen An led off with a solo homer to left on the very first pitch. Sun Yi Lei waited just one more pitch to send his solo shot to center. With 2 runners on, Kuo Shun Wei walked it off with another home run, this time to right.