Team Taiwan triumphed in the Asian Baseball Championship Oct. 20 after defeating Japan 5-4 at Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium in the central metropolis.
The victory is the first Asian championship title for the national baseball team since it last won the competition in 2001.
The final started with Japan taking an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, but Taiwan’s Jhang Jin-de promptly hit back with a second-inning three-run triple.
Although Japan moved ahead 4-3 in the bottom of the fourth, Taiwan again responded in the fifth inning with a two-run hit by first baseman Chiang Chien-ming to retake the lead 5-4.
Backed by an aggressive defense, Wang Tsung-hao and Liu Chih-jung prevented further scoring from Japan’s batting lineup. Liu was subsequently named the tournament MVP.
In a post-game interview, head coach Li Ying-nan said he was proud of the players, who worked extremely hard and gave their all in every match. The team was delighted to have won the title, he added.
Organized by the Baseball Federation of Asia, the biennial Asian Baseball Championship was first held in 1954. (RAY-E)
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