They’re baaaaaaaaack!!
14-run first too much for Poland
By
David Graham-Caso
Welcome back to Williamsport, Chinese Taipei.
After a seven-year sabbatical from the Little League World Series,
a team from Taiwan, Chinese Taipei returns to South Williamsport
in 2004. Of the 21 times that a Chinese Taipei team has traveled
to Williamsport, a Taiwanese team has reached the World Series
Championship game 19 times. They have won the World Championship a
record 17 times.
The Shou-Tien Little League from Kaosiung, Taiwan wasted no time
showing the rest of the teams staying in the International Grove
that they should expect the same dominance that Chinese Taipei
teams exerted in the Little League World Series.
“After seven years we finally fought our way back to the World
Series,” Taiwan manager Cheng Ying-Chun said through interpreter
George Chen. “Chinese-Taipei has a very good tradition of winning
in the Little League World Series, and that has not happened for a
long time.
“We want to continue that tradition,” Ying-Chun continued.
Nineteen batters came to the plate for Taiwan in the top of the
first inning and scored 14 runs before taking to the outfield. The
Asia Regional Champs went on to defeat Kutno, Poland 18-0.
Polish
starter Pawel Agacki had troubles trying to get the first three
outs of the game. Agacki walked seven batters and gave up six base
hits in the 14-run inning. The Polish defense did not help Agacki
much, committing three errors in that frame.
The Polish defense settled down after the chaotic first inning.
Taiwan notched a pair of runs in the second and one run apiece in
the third and fourth frames.
“I was not nervous at all about this game,” Ying-Chun said. “I
told my players to relax and to have fun. We next face Canada and
Panama, and those games have much more importance.”
Taiwan next faces Canada in Monday’s nightcap at Lamade Stadium.
Poland attempts to rebound against Panama Sunday at 4 p.m.
Click here
for box scores
