Yu-Hsiang Wang throws complete game gem, Chinese Taipei advance to World Championship game
At the end of a masterful pitching duel, World No. 4 Chinese Taipei defeated No. 5 Korea, 1-0, and earned the right to play for the U-12 Baseball World Title on Sunday, 6 August. Starting pitcher Yu-Hsiang Wang allowed only one hit and a walk. He outdueled Korean starter Jinwoong Lee, who allowed the game's only run on a squeeze play.
Chinese Taipei scored what would prove the winning run in the bottom of the second. First baseman Ya-En Chiu led off with a double in the gap in right centre. Yu-Hsiang Wang singled and brought him to third. Chiu ran home on a safety squeeze play perfectly executed by second baseman Sheng-Rang Wang.
Jinwoong Lee would not allow another hit, allowing Chinese Taipei to reach base only on a walk in the bottom of the third while striking out four over five innings.
Yu-Hsiang Wang outdueled him using 73 pitches, 49 for strikes, and striking out seven. His fastball topped 80 miles (or 128 kilometres) per hour. A sweeping slider proved his most effective strikeout pitch.
Korea reached base only in the second inning on a walk and in the fifth on a leadoff single by second baseman Sangmyeong Yang. They never reached third base.
Chinese Taipei (4-0) will play the final game of the Super Round against the United States. No matter the result, they will compete in the World Championship game on Sunday, 6 August. Korea (1-3) will face Venezuela.
