Chiu Wen-Yu's Two Homers Lead Taoyuan to Wang Chen-chih Cup Victory, Securing PONY League Berth

(CNA, Taipei, May 21, by Su Shih-she) The championship game of the Wang Chen-chih Youth Baseball Tournament today was decided by batting firepower, as Chiu Wen-Yu of the Taoyuan City team hit two home runs in a single game, leading his team to a 9-4 victory over the New Taipei City team and securing the spot for the PONY League Palma Division Asia-Pacific tournament. The 115th Dajia Mazu Cup Wang Chen-chih Youth Baseball Tournament serves as the domestic qualifier for the PONY League Palma Division (17-18 age group) Asia-Pacific Youth Baseball Championship. The winning team will represent their city in the Asia-Pacific tournament in Jakarta, Indonesia, starting June 23, competing for a chance to advance to the World Series in the United States. In today's final, the Taoyuan City team scored 4 runs in the top of the 2nd inning. This was followed by a solo home run from Su Cheng-Ju in the top of the 4th, and another solo homer from Chiu Wen-Yu in the top of the 5th, extending the lead to 6-0. In the top of the 6th, Chiu Wen-Yu hit a 2-run homer, part of a 3-run inning that stretched the lead to 9-0. The New Taipei City team didn't get on the board until the bottom of the 6th with a solo home run by Chang Yi-An. They mounted a final rally in the bottom of the 7th, adding 3 more runs, but could not close the gap. The Taoyuan City team ultimately won by a 5-run margin. Starting pitcher Wu Shih-Chun pitched 6.1 innings, allowing 5 hits, including one home run, and 4 runs to earn the win, along with 5 strikeouts. In the third-place game, the Changhua County team defeated the Taitung County team 11-5. In the top of the 4th inning, Changhua County hit four home runs in a single inning: Lin Chia-Cheng and Chao Ling-Yu hit back-to-back homers, and after one batter, Wu Yu-Che and Wu Cheng-Han also hit back-to-back home runs. Chen Hsiu-Hsin added another homer in the top of the 6th to help secure the victory for Changhua County. The Taoyuan City team was also the big winner of individual awards, with Lin Yi-Ting winning the Batting Award, Cheng Yu-Cheng the RBI Award, and Wu Shih-Chun taking home the Most Valuable Player award. New Taipei City's power hitter Chang Yi-An hit 5 home runs throughout the tournament to win the Home Run Award, while the Pitching Award went to Yu Lei of the Taitung County team. (Editor: Chang Ya-ching) 1150521