Small Ball Does The Job Big Time
Kaohsiung, Chinese Taipei goes station-to-station in 18-0 victory over Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
Source: South Williamsport, Pa.
Date/Time: Saturday, August 21, 2010, 6:00pm ET
When Tung-Yu Ho managed Chinese Taipei to a championship in the 1996 Little
League World Series, he was accustomed to seeing the ball fly a little higher
and farther than it did tonight against Saudia Arabia.
“Obviously for this team, if the batting is not well…[then we] gotta do it more
basic, use more speed,” said Tung-Yu.
If “doing it basic” is what Ho calls the display his team put on Saturday night,
then perhaps other teams should try keeping the ball in the park as well.
Asia-Pacific scored 18 runs on 16 hits, including just four extra base hits (all
doubles). But this was more than enough, as the Middle East and Africa (MEA)
representatives were never able to shake off the pressure put on by Chinese
Taipei’s relentless baserunning.
“They ran the bases very fast, which I think was difficult for us to adjust to,”
said Saudi Arabia manager Jeffrey Barnett. “They were very fast, very
aggressive. I was impressed.”
Chen Chen-Wei hustled out a double to short right to begin the offensive
onslaught for Chinese Taipei. A subsequent series of walks and singles set the
table for Hung Chun-Yi, who hit a two-run double to give Asia-Pacific six runs
before Saudi Arabia came to the plate.
Chinese Taipei scored two runs to push its lead to 8-0 at the end of the second,
which was highlighted by Huang Shao-Fei’s double to center field.
In the third inning, Chinese Taipei doubled its run total without hitting a
double, triple or home run. Powered by a string of eight-consecutive singles,
the Asia-Pacific All-Stars scratched and clawed their way to an insurmountable
lead.
Cheng Wei-Chung best exemplified the Asia-Pacific style of play in the top of
the third, filling two different offensive roles, scoring twice and bringing in
a run with his bat.
With the score at 10-0, Cheng entered the game as a special pinch runner. As the
first pitch of the new at-bat crossed the plate, Cheng faked a steal, attempting
to draw a throw from catcher Braden Barnett so the runner at third could score.
The very next pitch, he hustled from first to third on a single to right.
Cheng himself would score to make it 12-0, and as soon as he reached the dugout,
he was instructed by his manager to turn around and pinch hit. With runners on
first and second, Cheng dropped down a bunt, which Saudi Arabia pitcher Bradlee
Sumner threw into the outfield. Each runner advanced two bases, pushing the
score to 13-0.
Cheng would come around again to tally the final run of the third, moving the
score to 16-0 in the favor of the Asia-Pacific All-Stars.
Chinese Taipei called upon Huang Shao-Fei to finish the no-hit bid in the fourth
inning, but Jacob Ksiazek denied the Asia-Pacific pitchers, glancing a single
off the third baseman’s glove to end the draught for Saudi Arabia.
Huang was not fazed.
“It’s just part of the game,” he said. “Just keep pitching and do the best I
can.”
Asia-Pacific promptly eliminated the scoring threat by throwing out Ksiazek when
he attempted to steal second on a wild pitch.
Huang then closed out the game by inducing a ground ball to the shortstop and
striking out Tanner Beachy swinging.
Chinese Taipei used four pitchers in the game, all of whom will be available for
the next contest against Canada Monday at 2:00 at Volunteer Stadium. Saudi
Arabia will face Panama in a Pool D elimination game tomorrow at 3:00, also at
Volunteer Stadium.