Chinese Taipei Captures First Game
Source: South Williamsport, Pa.
Date/Time: Friday, August 21, 2009, 3:00pm ET
The 2009 Asia Pacific champions, Kuei-Shan Little League team from
Taoyuan, Chinese Taipei, put on an all-world display of pitching, hitting, and
defense in the second game of the 63rd annual Little League World Series Friday
with a 16-0 victory over the European champions, KMC American Little League from
Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
Keui-Shan dominated all three phases of the game before a crowd of 8,200 at
Howard J. Lamade Stadium as they collected 11 hits and utilized four pitchers to
combine for a no-hitter preserved by solid infield defense. The game ended in
the fourth inning because of the 10-run-rule. Little League rules state a game
is complete if one team leads by 10 or more runs after four innings.
Catcher Yu Chieh Kao clouted a grand slam to right field in the first inning,
setting the tone for Chinese Taipei by putting his team up 6-0. He drove in a
total of six runs in the game.
“I told myself to relax, take my time, and I did,” Kao said. “I hit a home run
and I was really excited.”
Starting pitcher Wen Hua Sung proved Keui-Shan has immense talent in its
battery. Both Sung and Kao had three hits in three at-bats and each scored three
runs. Sung also knocked in three runs, pitched a scoreless first inning, getting
two of the three outs by strike out, and he also played shortstop and first
base.
“I’m especially happy because I played three positions today,” Sung said. “I did
my best to try and win the game for the team.”
The starting pitcher wasn’t flawless, however, because his walk of KMC starting
pitcher Cannon Byrd was the only thing between the Kuei-Shan pitching staff and
a four-inning perfect game.
First baseman Chin Ou, shortstop Hung Yuan Lin, and third baseman Cheng Chieh
Lee all threw perfect innings with one strike out. Ou was singled out by his
manager, Cheng Ta Lee, for his performance.
“Yu Chieh Kao went 3-3, Wen Hua Sung went 3-3, and Chin Ou had two hits as well.
Three people had a great game today,” Lee said.
Lee was a good sport in his assessment of his opposition.
“Actually for the Europe team, the pitching speed was very good,” he said.
“Because it was the first game, maybe they felt a little bit of nerves.”
KMC manager Ed Prince was a little more blunt.“We got kicked in the teeth here
today,” Prince said. “It might be good for (the team), to wake them up a little
bit.”
Both coaches were complimentary of KMC center fielder Santee Jackson, who made
an impressive catch on the warning track in center field with the sun in his
face.
“You know this is his first year playing baseball,” Prince said. “He’s a good
athlete, and we picked him as an athlete. He’s turned into quite a ballplayer.”
Jackson and the rest of the team have two days off before they play the Mexico
Region champions, Guadalupe Trevino Kelly Little League of Reynosa, at noon on
Monday. Kuei-Shan plays the Canadian champion, Hastings Community Little League
from Vancouver, B.C., at 3 p.m. on Sunday.