New Taipei City Wins Third Straight Hwa Nan Youth Baseball Championship, Earns U15 World Cup Team Selection Rights

(Central News Agency, reporter Xie Jingwen, New Taipei City, 8th) In the championship game of the Hwa Nan Youth Baseball Championship, New Taipei City faced Tainan City today. New Taipei City's pitcher Jiang Youbo came in as a closer to help the team secure the victory. Wang Shengxiang recorded 2 hits and 1 RBI, earning the tournament MVP award. New Taipei City won 6-5, completing a three-peat and earning the right to organize the Taiwan national team for the U15 Baseball World Cup.

The 115th Hwa Nan Financial Holding Cup National Youth Baseball Championship serves as the selection tournament for this year's U15 Baseball World Cup. In the championship game, New Taipei City faced Tainan City. New Taipei City started the game with an offensive surge. In the bottom of the first inning, they scored the first run on a hit-by-pitch, an error, and consecutive walks, then added a second run on a sacrifice fly.

New Taipei City added more runs in the bottom of the second inning. After a hit-by-pitch and a sacrifice bunt, Xie Zhenfeng drove in the third run with a single. Zhang Shaoyuan followed with a single, and an error by the opposing defense allowed two more runs to score. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Jiang Youbo hit a triple, and Wang Shengxiang followed with an RBI single to add an insurance run.

New Taipei City led 6-2 after five innings, but their bullpen encountered trouble. Tainan City scored two runs in the top of the sixth inning. In the top of the seventh, Tainan City mounted another rally. New Taipei City brought in Jiang Youbo as a reliever, who allowed only one run before stabilizing and preventing further damage, preserving the one-run lead.

New Taipei City's relief pitcher Zhang Qun pitched 3 innings, allowing only 1 earned run, earning the win. Jiang Youbo pitched 1 scoreless inning, earning the save. Wang Shengxiang had 2 hits and 1 RBI in the championship game, along with one hit-by-pitch, and was named the tournament MVP (Most Valuable Player).

Regarding the pitching changes in the championship game, New Taipei City head coach Qiu Yaoyu stated, "I told the players that in the final game, if there were any issues, we would change pitchers immediately. In the seventh inning, I felt relief pitcher Lin Pin'an was still having some issues, so I quickly brought in Jiang Youbo. Jiang Youbo has national team experience from elementary school and can stay calm in crucial situations."

Qiu Yaoyu said achieving a three-peat was not easy. He mentioned the tradition of their parent school, Erzhong Junior High School, noting that they quickly help ninth-grade players decide on their high school teams so the players can focus entirely on the game. He said, "We pride ourselves on being the youth baseball team that practices the most in the country. I am grateful for the trust and cooperation of the parents and players, as well as the support from the school and the advisory group." (Editor: Wu Surou) 1150608