Okinawa: Taiwan's men's baseball team secured a bronze medal in the U-18 Baseball World Cup with a narrow 3-2 victory over South Korea, following an overturned call that proved decisive in the tournament held in Okinawa, Japan.
According to Focus Taiwan, the Taiwanese team clinched the win in dramatic fashion. With the score tied at 2-2 in the top of the seventh inning, catcher Jiang Ting-yi delivered a crucial two-out single, allowing third-baseman Zeng Sheng-en to score the game-winning run. Initially, Zeng was called out, but after a review requested by Team Taiwan, the play was overturned. The umpire ruled it as an obstruction, determining that the Korean catcher had blocked Zeng's path to home plate without having possession of the ball. Taiwanese reliever Su Lan-hong then retired the final three Korean batters in the bottom of the inning to secure the victory.
This win marks Taiwan's eighth bronze medal in the U-18 Baseball World Cup since the tournament's inception in 1981. Competing under the name Chinese Taipei, Team Taiwan showcased their resilience and skill throughout the competition, which features players aged 16 to 18.
Team Taiwan Manager Liao Hung-yuan praised his players for their strong determination and balanced performance both defensively and offensively. Jiang, who hit the game-winning RBI single, expressed confidence during the high-pressure moment, drawing on his past experiences facing similar situations. He anticipated a breaking ball rather than a fastball and successfully delivered the hit that secured the victory.
The game was closely contested, with South Korea's designated hitter Kim Geonwhi hitting a solo home run off Taiwan's starter Liu Jen-yu in the second inning to take an early 1-0 lead. Taiwan responded by tying the score and then taking a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning. South Korea equalized in the sixth inning, setting the stage for Taiwan's dramatic win in the seventh.
On the same day, defending champions Japan, who have remained undefeated in the Okinawa tournament, were set to face the United States in the gold medal match. The standings for this year's U-18 tournament from fifth to twelfth place are Puerto Rico, Panama, Cuba, Australia, Italy, Germany, China, and South Africa.