Taiwan Defeats Venezuela, Advances to Little League World Series Final

In a thrilling semifinal showdown in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Taiwan’s pitcher Lai Cheng-Xi dazzled the crowd by striking out an impressive 12 batters, leading the Asia-Pacific representative to a 4-1 victory over Venezuela. This win secures Taiwan’s place in the upcoming championship game of the Little League World Series.

Despite only notching three hits during the game, Taiwan’s strategic play and discipline at the plate led to eight walks and two runs scored from wild pitches. This effective approach allowed the team to capitalize on Venezuela’s mistakes.

Taiwan is now set to face the winner of the matchup between Florida and Texas, which will determine their opponent in the title game scheduled for Sunday. This appearance marks Taiwan’s 32nd time at the Little League World Series, and they are aiming for their first championship win since 1996. Having won the tournament 17 times previously, they hold the record for the most championships by any international team, including an impressive five consecutive titles from 1977 to 1981.

The Kuei-Shan Little League from Taoyuan, Taiwan, previously reached the semifinals on the international side in 2023 but ended in third place. Manager Lee Cheng-Ta has returned with a completely new roster this year, showcasing the strength and talent of this fresh group.

Venezuela’s pitcher José Perez found himself in a challenging situation in the top of the third inning, facing a bases-loaded scenario with one out. When Yu Chia-Jai walked on five pitches, it sent Chen Bo-Wei home, increasing Taiwan’s lead to 2-0. This moment seemed pivotal, especially with Lai’s commanding presence on the mound.

Lai’s performance on the mound was noteworthy, as he continued to rack up strikeouts while Venezuela had difficulty finding their rhythm at the plate. Wild pitches proved detrimental for the Venezuelan team. In the first inning alone, a pitch thrown by starter Luis Yepez went past the catcher, allowing Chiu Wei-Che to slide home safely and put Taiwan ahead.

During Venezuela’s first at-bat, they managed to get off to a good start with a single to left field by Luis. A subsequent sacrifice bunt moved him to second base, yet any hopes of a rally were thwarted as Lai struck out the next two batters, halting Venezuela’s momentum.

Taiwan extended their lead in the fifth inning when another run came home due to a collision between Luis and Samuel Carrasquel in shallow center field while attempting to catch a fly ball. After Chen had earlier singled, he seized the opportunity to dash home, making the score 4-0.

Venezuela did not give up. In the sixth inning, they created a genuine threat by placing runners on second and third base after Abraham Lucena hit a double to right field. A groundout allowed one run to score, narrowing the gap to 4-1. However, Simon Vicheria was unable to complete the rally, grounding back to Chiu, who had taken over as relief pitcher, effectively sealing the game.

This victory is particularly significant for Taiwan as they look to reclaim their status in the Little League World Series, aiming to add another championship title to their storied history.