(Taitung County pitcher Wang Kun-Feng secured a tense victory for his team against Tainan City in today's Yu Shan Cup youth baseball tournament, entering in the 7th inning to close out the game despite facing a bases-loaded crisis. Wang, whose fastball reaches 148 km/h, showed flashes of brilliance but also struggled with control early in his outing.

The game was tied 3-1 in favor of Taitung County after six innings. In the top of the 7th, with one out and runners on base, Wang was brought in to relieve. During his warm-up throws, he consistently exceeded 145 km/h, but in the game, he allowed a hit, recorded a strikeout, then issued a walk to load the bases. He quickly regained composure and escaped the jam, preserving the lead and securing advancement to the semifinals for Taitung County.

Taitung County head coach Chen Feng-Yueh noted that while Wang's velocity in warm-ups was impressive, the drop-off during actual gameplay remains an area for improvement. "He has great speed, and recently he's been adding more pitch types. With more game experience, his consistency will definitely improve," Chen said.

Wang admitted he was too excited upon entering the game, leading him to overexert himself. "I wanted to face the batters too quickly," he said, adding that pitching coach Kao Lung-Wei reminded him to stay focused.

Wang's confidence grew after a strong performance in April's U18 East Coast League game against Kao Yuan Industrial & Commercial School. It was around this time he began seriously considering entering the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) draft. During the Wang Cheng-Chih Cup, pitching coach Kao taught him the sinker, which he immediately used effectively in games.

Wang's cousin, Lin Shih-Hsiang, currently plays for the TSG Hawks in the CPBL. Wang has previously consulted Lin on how to throw a changeup, though he does not intentionally mimic his cousin's mechanics. When asked if he had discussed the draft with Lin, Wang laughed and said, "Yes, I did. He told me not to join the same team as him." (Edited by Li Heng-Shan) 1150616

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  • Source: CNA (Central News Agency)
  • Category: Event