The Little League World Series championship saw Taiwan’s Lai Cheng-Xi deliver a dominant performance, striking out 12 batters and allowing just three hits in a 4-1 victory over Venezuela. Despite only managing three hits themselves, Taiwan capitalized on eight walks and scored twice on wild pitches. This win puts Taiwan in a position to win the title for the first time since 1996, a significant achievement for a team that has claimed the tournament title 17 times, the most of any international team.
Kuei-Shan Little League from Taoyuan, Taiwan, had previously made it to the semifinals in 2023 but had to settle for third place. Manager Lee Cheng-Ta has returned to South Williamsport with a new roster, determined to lead his team to victory. The pivotal moment in the game against Venezuela came in the third inning when Yu Chia-Jai walked on five pitches with the bases loaded, allowing Chen Bo-Wei to score. This play, along with Lai’s dominant pitching, gave Taiwan a significant advantage in the game.
Throughout the game, Lai continued to rack up strikeouts, while Venezuela struggled with wild pitches and control issues. Taiwan capitalized on these mistakes, including a wild pitch in the first inning that allowed Chiu Wei-Che to score the opening run of the game. Despite opening with a leadoff single and sacrifice bunt, Venezuela was unable to capitalize on their opportunities, with Lai shutting down the Latin America team with back-to-back strikeouts.
In the fifth inning, Taiwan added to their lead when a collision between Venezuela’s Luis and Carrasquel in center field allowed Chen to score, extending Taiwan’s lead to four. Venezuela mounted a late rally in the sixth, putting runners in scoring position, but a groundout ended the game, securing Taiwan’s victory. With this win, Taiwan advances to the championship game of the Little League World Series, giving them a chance to add to their impressive history of tournament victories.
Despite having only three hits in the game, Taiwan’s ability to capitalize on walks, wild pitches, and defensive errors proved to be the difference-maker against Venezuela. Lai’s dominant pitching performance, combined with clutch plays by the offense, propelled Taiwan to victory and a spot in the championship game. Manager Lee Cheng-Ta’s leadership and strategic decisions also played a crucial role in guiding his team to success in the tournament. As Taiwan looks ahead to the championship game, they will aim to draw upon their experience and history to secure another title and cement their legacy as one of the most successful teams in Little League World Series history.
