TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan opened the inaugural World Collegiate Baseball Championship with a 10-6 loss to the US on Sunday in Taichung, disappointing the hometown crowd after a closely contested game against one of the tournament’s strongest teams.
The five-day invitational tournament features youth players from four baseball powerhouses, Taiwan, the US, Japan, and South Korea, with games being held at the Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium, per a USA Baseball press release.
The Fubon Guardians’ left-handed pitcher Lee Sheng-han (李聖韓) was selected as Taiwan’s starting pitcher, a surprising decision as he's typically at the back end of a pitching rotation. Taiwan manager Tang Den-kai (湯登凱) said the coaching staff decided after considering the strength of the US lineup, per LTN.
“The harder we throw, the further the US batters will hit, so we went with this left-handed pitcher,” said Tang. However, the strategy backfired as Lee struggled early, walking the first two US batters. Taiwan escaped further damage after the third batter grounded into a double play, but Lee surrendered an RBI single to left field by Chase Fralick, giving the US an early 1-0 lead.
Taiwan responded in the bottom of the first inning, scoring twice with runners on the corners after Chang Chao-hung (張趙紘) delivered a timely single to put Taiwan ahead 2-1.
Pitching problems ultimately proved costly for the home team, as Lee was removed in the second inning with the bases loaded and no outs. Taiwan escaped the inning without allowing a run, but the US tied the game at 2-2 in the third inning when Nico Partida drove in Gavin Kelly with a sacrifice fly.
The US broke the game open in the fourth inning. Kolby Branch led off with a home run to center field, followed by an Anthony Pack Jr. single. Pack later scored on a double to center field, while Kelly added another RBI single to bring Pitts home and complete a three-run inning.
The US added three more runs in the fifth inning to extend its lead to 8-2. Kelly continued his dominant performance in the seventh inning, hitting a solo home run to center field for his fourth hit and fourth RBI of the game, giving the US a 9-2 advantage.
Taiwan mounted a comeback attempt in the bottom of the seventh, scoring four runs on four hits to cut the deficit to 9-6. The US added an insurance run in the ninth inning when pinch hitter Hogan Denny hit an RBI single to center field, scoring Kelly after Kelly opened the inning with his fifth hit of the game.
Taiwan used six pitchers during the game, but none were able to contain the US offense, which recorded 16 hits. Taiwan will return to action Monday against South Korea, with Rakuten Monkeys ace Chen Chao-yi-hsun (陳趙羿勳) scheduled to start.
Taiwan’s roster is primarily composed of professional league players and players who have already been selected in professional drafts. The US team, meanwhile, is largely an all-star squad made up of collegiate players. The tournament also includes a team sponsored by Japan’s University Baseball Federation and a similar team representing South Korea, per a USA Baseball press release.
In another opening-round game, Japan defeated South Korea 10-0, with the game ending in the seventh inning under the mercy rule after Japan built a 10-run lead.
The tournament features three days of pool play followed by the semifinals and medal games. Pool play continues Tuesday, while the semifinals and championship games will be held Wednesday. Live broadcasts and additional tournament information are available at the event’s official website.
