Little league team reaches World Series

Taiwan beat Guam 11-0 in only 3 1/2 innings to claim the Asia-Pacific Regional Tournament and represent the region in the World Series beginning August 21.

The team composed mostly of players from Kuei-Shan Elementary School in the northern Taiwan county romped through Pool A of the Asia-Pacific regional this past week, defeating teams from Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Singapore and Korea by a cumulative score of 60-4, to earn the right to play in Friday's final against Pool B winner Guam.

Taiwan's Pan Po-chuan helped his team jump out to a quick lead against Guam with a three-run homer in the bottom of the first, and an eight-run outburst in the bottom of the third left the game's outcome in little doubt.

Starter Ou Chin yielded only one hit and struck out six in four innings. The game was called after Ou retired Guam in the top of the fourth because Taiwan was leading by more than 10 runs. Little League games normally last six innings.

Kuei-Shan hopes to reverse Taiwan's recent undistinguished run in international Little League competition. Taiwanese teams have won 17 Little League World Series since 1969, but none since 1996 when Kaohsiung's Fu Hsing Little League won the title.

Kuei-Shan coach Li Cheng-ta said that between now and the tournament, his team will need to improve its ability to hit breaking balls, get used to playing at night, and prepare for a grass infield.

Li said his hitters had trouble dealing with the Guam starter's breaking balls in the first two innings of Friday's game, a fairly typical pattern that Li attributed to the lack of exposure Little League players in Taiwan get to off-speed pitches.

Only two local Little League baseball tournaments allow their pitchers to throw breaking balls, but no such restrictions exist in international play, said Li, who had junior high pitchers pepper his players with breaking balls during practice to get them ready for the Asia-Pacific regional.

Li also expressed concern that the field in Williamsport has a grass infield, not common in Taiwan at almost any level.

In northern Taiwan, only Tienmu and Sinjhuang stadiums, which are used to host professional baseball games, have grass infields, and Li would like to have a chance to practice in either of the stadiums if possible.

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