08/09/2023 2 Minute Read

Chinese Taipei shut out Netherlands, advance to World Championship Game

Chinese Taipei pitchers allowed only one hit. For five innings, it was a pitching duel between Wei En Lin and Gijs Van den Brink. The hosts opened the score on the Dutch bullpen. Chinese Taipei will face Japan for the Title of U-18 World Champion

World No. 5 Chinese Taipei shut out the Netherlands, 6-0, to maintain a perfect record in the XXXI WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup. They will face Japan for the title of U-18 World Champion on Sunday, 10 September. The U-18 Samurai have a 3-1 record.

Chinese Taipei pitchers didn't allow scoring chances and combined nine strikeouts.

Chinese Taipei got the first hit of the night when centre fielder Ching Hsien Ko led off the bottom of the fourth with a base hit. Dutch starter Gijs Van den Brink walked leadoff hitter Nian Hao Wang. Chia Wei Lin pushed a bunt along the third base line and the Netherlands failed to get the force out at third.

First baseman Hsun Chieh Lin stepped to the box with the bases loaded and no one out. He grounded out to third baseman Keegan Pieternella, but all runners advanced, and Ching Hsien Ko scored the go-ahead run.

The Netherlands reached base on an error with one out in the top of the fifth. Pieternella followed with a single to right field. Wei En Lin used five pitches to retire the side in order and end the at-bat. It would remain the only Dutch hit.

Isaac Mendez took the mound for the Netherlands in the bottom half of the frame. He hit the first batter, and Chinese Taipei bunted him to second. After allowing a walk, Mendez left for Tobias Imming.

Ching Hsien Ko flew out to centre field. He became the second out but advanced the lead runner, Tien Szu Huang, to third base.

Imming allowed back-to-back walks to extend the Chinese Taipei lead to 2-0 and left. The Netherlands handed the ball to Maarten Smit, who also entered the game with back-to-back walks. Meng Chih Hu added an RBI single to extend the lead to 5-0

Chinese Taipei added a run against Keyon Ashby in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single by usual suspect Ching Hsien Ko.

Mu Heng Chen and Po Chun Lin pitched two perfect innings to complete Wei En Lin masterful outing.

Chinese Taipei will head to the last day of the Super Round with a perfect record and play No. 1 Japan. The Netherlands will face No. 4 Korea in what may develop into an elimination game to advance to the bronze-medal game.