Taiwan yesterday met reigning world champions the US in the WBSC Under-12 Baseball World Cup final in Tainan. Despite an early lead, a number of errors by the hosts and strong US batting helped them overtake Taiwan and hold their lead until the end.
At their previous meeting in a second-round game on Friday, Taiwan defeated the US 11-6.
Taiwan took the lead in the bottom of the first inning with one run and then increased their lead to 2-0 in the second inning.
Photo: CNA
Up until that point, things were looking good for Taiwan, but it all changed in the third inning, when the US rallied to turn the game on its head. In the top of the third, the US scored two points due to poor fielding by Taiwan’s Yang Chun (楊鈞) and the US’ Jack Ryan hitting into right field.
The US then increased their lead to 4-2 after short stop Davis Diaz scored a two-point home run. By the end of the inning, the US were leading hosts Taiwan 5-2.
In the top of the fifth inning, Ryan scored a home run to widen the US’ lead to 6-2. By the bottom of the sixth inning, the US had scored yet another run to secure their 7-2 victory, successfully defending their 2013 title by once again defeating Taiwan in the final.
The Chinese Taipei Baseball Association (中華民國棒球協會) said all 11,000 tickets were sold and Tainan Mayor William Lai (賴清德) attended the game to cheer for Taiwan.
SECURITY: As China is ‘reshaping’ Hong Kong’s population, Taiwan must raise the eligibility threshold for applications from Hong Kongers, Chiu Chui-cheng said When Hong Kong and Macau citizens apply for residency in Taiwan, it would be under a new category that includes a “national security observation period,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday. President William Lai (賴清德) on March 13 announced 17 strategies to counter China’s aggression toward Taiwan, including incorporating national security considerations into the review process for residency applications from Hong Kong and Macau citizens. The situation in Hong Kong is constantly changing, Chiu said to media yesterday on the sidelines of the Taipei Technology Run hosted by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association. With
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
A US Marine Corps regiment equipped with Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) is set to participate in the upcoming Balikatan 25 exercise in the Luzon Strait, marking the system’s first-ever deployment in the Philippines. US and Philippine officials have separately confirmed that the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) — the mobile launch platform for the Naval Strike Missile — would take part in the joint exercise. The missiles are being deployed to “a strategic first island chain chokepoint” in the waters between Taiwan proper and the Philippines, US-based Naval News reported. “The Luzon Strait and Bashi Channel represent a critical access
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College
RSS