Current:Home > BackStriking out 12, Taiwan defeats Venezuela 4-1 in the Little League World Series semifinal-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
Striking out 12, Taiwan defeats Venezuela 4-1 in the Little League World Series semifinal
View Date:2025-01-13 16:01:34
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) — Taiwan couldn’t get much going at the plate on Saturday. But the way starter Lai Cheng-Xi was pitching, it didn’t matter.
Lai struck out 12 batters and allowed just three hits in 5 1/3 innings as the Asia-Pacific representative beat Venezuela 4-1 to advance to the Little League World Series championship.
“He’s the ace pitcher for the team and he shows leadership,” manager Lee Cheng-Ta said through an interpreter. “He’s calm and he works hard, so every time we’ve had an important game he’s always the one to be carrying the responsibility.”
Taiwan also managed only three hits but collected eight walks and scored twice on wild pitches.
Taiwan will face the winner of the Florida-Texas semifinal, to be played later Saturday, in the title game on Sunday. In its 32nd LLWS appearance, Taiwan has a chance to win it all for the first time since 1996 — though it has claimed the tournament title 17 times, more than any other international team, including a run of five straight from 1977-81.
Kuei-Shan Little League from Taoyuan, Taiwan, made it to the semifinal on the international side of the bracket in 2023 but ultimately settled for third place. Cheng-Ta brought the team back to South Williamsport but with an entirely different roster.
José Perez took the mound for Venezuela with the bases loaded and one out in the top of the third. Yu Chia-Jai walked on five pitches and put his arms up in joy looking toward his dugout as Chen Bo-Wei walked home. The play made the score only 2-0, but it felt like a turning point with Lai in control.
“I was telling the kids to be aggressive in batting, but the kids are trained enough to know what is going to be a ball or strike so if you see a ball, you know, don’t just chase for it,” Cheng-Ta said.
As Lai racked up strikeouts, Venezuela struggled to consistently find the strike zone. Wild pitches proved costly from the start. In the first inning, a pitch from starter Luis Yepez reached the backstop, allowing Chiu Wei-Che to safely slide home and put Taiwan on the board.
Venezuela opened its first at-bat with a single to left by Luis, and a sacrifice bunt moved him to second. But Lai ended the Latin America threat by striking out the next two batters.
In the fifth, Taiwan picked up another run when Luis and Samuel Carrasquel collided in shallow center trying to catch a fly ball for the inning’s final out. Chen, who singled to left in the previous at-bat, had plenty of time to run home and increase the lead to four.
Venezuela finally mounted a threat in the sixth, putting runners on second and third when Abraham Lucena doubled to right. A groundout got one run home but Simon Vicheria grounded back to Chiu, who had moved to relief pitcher, to end the game.
“We’re going to celebrate for a few minutes, maybe an hour,” Cheng-Ta said. “Afterwards tonight, we’re going to focus on what’s for tomorrow.”
___
Amanda Vogt is a student in the John Curley Center for Sports Journalism at Penn State.
veryGood! (9248)
Related
- Fate of Netflix Series America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Revealed
- Significant hoard of Bronze Age treasure discovered by metal detectorists in Wales
- When and where to watch the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, plus who's performing
- Naughty dog finds forever home after shelter's hilarious post: 'We want Eddie out of here'
- Avril Lavigne’s Ex Mod Sun Is Dating Love Is Blind Star Brittany Wisniewski, Debuts Romance With a Kiss
- Hunger Games' Rachel Zegler Reveals the OMG Story Behind Her First Meeting With Jennifer Lawrence
- Judge bars media cameras in University of Idaho slayings case, but the court will livestream
- 2023 NFL MVP odds: Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts tied for lead before 'Monday Night Football'
- Judge weighs the merits of a lawsuit alleging ‘Real Housewives’ creators abused a cast member
- California Highway Patrol officer fatally shoots man walking on freeway, prompting investigation
Ranking
- Gigi Hadid and Bradley Cooper Prove They're Going Strong With Twinning Looks on NYC Date
- One of the year's brightest meteor showers is underway: How to watch the Geminids
- A new study says the global toll of lead exposure is even worse than we thought
- Years after Parkland massacre, tour freshens violence for group of House lawmakers
- Lee Zeldin, Trump’s EPA Pick, Brings a Moderate Face to a Radical Game Plan
- Napoleon's bicorne hat sold at auction for a history-making price
- Slain New Hampshire security guard honored at candlelight vigil
- Shakira strikes plea deal on first day of Spain tax evasion trial, agrees to pay $7.6M
Recommendation
-
Mike Tyson employs two trainers who 'work like a dream team' as Jake Paul fight nears
-
US auto safety regulators reviewing some Hyundai, Kia recalls
-
Chiefs vs. Eagles Monday Night Football live updates: Odds, predictions, how to watch
-
Iowa superstar Caitlin Clark to join ManningCast Monday night on ESPN2 for Chiefs-Eagles
-
Only 8 monkeys remain free after more than a week outside a South Carolina compound
-
72-year-old Chicago man killed in drive-by shooting after leaving family party
-
Why Taylor Swift's Music Is Temporarily Banned From Philadelphia Radio Station
-
As Taylor Swift cheers for Travis Kelce and Chiefs, some Eagles fans feel 'betrayed'