U.S. Contending for Taiwan's 18th Little League Championship
Taiwan's Tung-Yuan Aims for 18th Little League World Series Title
Taiwan's Tung-Yuan team, managed by Lai Min-nan, is set to participate in the Little League World Series for the fourth consecutive year. The team's goal is clear: to bring Taiwan their 18th championship in the prestigious tournament.
Ten years ago, Lai Min-nan's club went 2-2 in the Little League World Series, losing to Mexico in the double-elimination tournament. This year, he hopes for a different result, aiming to avenge the loss and secure a long-awaited victory for Taiwan.
Tung-Yuan's team seems to have improved since their last appearance. Unlike last year's Taiwan club, Tung-Yuan's team does not seem to have any issues hitting. "That's the No. 1 expectation," Lai Min-nan stated.
The team's key strength appears to be their strong pitching, especially by Liu Wei-Heng. Liu's performance, which included striking out the side in back-to-back innings, suggests that Taiwan's pitching is a major strength. The team also boasts five pitchers capable of topping 112kph.
In the regional tournament, Taiwan outscored opponents 60-1 in the six games they won. However, the search results do not specifically state which team Taiwan faced in the first game of the 2021 series, nor do they highlight that game's key strengths directly. One result mentions Taiwan playing against Aruba in a game covered during the series, indicating that Taiwan faced Aruba at some point in the tournament.
Taiwan has a rich history in the Little League World Series, having won 17 titles, more than any country other than the US. The Kuei-Shan team from Taoyuan reached the final of the international bracket at the past two tournaments. Lai Min-nan and his team are determined to continue this tradition.
The US always gets a team in the Little League World Series championship due to the bracket setup. This year, Tung-Yuan will face Mexico today in their first game in the Little League World Series. Lin Chin-tse throws at 128kph, which appears faster to the hitter due to the close proximity of the mound to home plate.
Lai Min-nan expressed a desire for hard work over a long period (10 years) to achieve a short-term success (shining in the Little League World Series). The team is ready to put in the effort and hopes to make Taiwan proud.
There are pitch count rules in little league, requiring a certain amount of days rest depending on how many pitches a player throws. The Little League World Series first-round bracket matchups were announced before the Asia-Pacific regional tournament. Lai Min-nan and his team are prepared for the challenges ahead and are determined to bring home the victory.
Tung-Yuan's team aims to showcase their improved hitting skills, particularly in the world of baseball, as they try to bring a long-awaited victory to Taiwan in this year's Little League World Series. With strong pitching, led by Liu Wei-Heng's impressive performance, they hope to outperform their previous results against Mexico in the tournament.
