Kaohsiung Wins Extra-Innings Game at Yu-Shan Cup Youth Baseball, But Batting Struggles Prompt Lineup Review

(Taipei Correspondent Hsieh Ching-wen, New Taipei, June 16) In the Yu-Shan Cup youth baseball tournament, Kaohsiung City scored one run in the first inning and maintained a one-run lead until the bottom of the seventh inning. Yunlin County tied the game with a solo home run, forcing extra innings. Kaohsiung scored two runs in the top of the ninth inning and held Yunlin scoreless in the bottom half to win 3-1. Despite the victory, the team's offense has struggled in consecutive games, prompting head coach Shih Hung-chieh to announce a team meeting to discuss adjustments.

In the elimination round of the 115th Yu-Shan Cup youth baseball tournament, Kaohsiung faced off against Yunlin County today. Kaohsiung took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning with a sacrifice fly. The score remained unchanged through six innings. In the bottom of the seventh, Yunlin capitalized on Kaohsiung’s pitching change, as pinch-hitter Cheng Chieh-yu hit a game-tying solo home run off reliever Chen Yu-ming.

Both teams were scoreless in the eighth inning of extra play. In the top of the ninth, Kaohsiung scored two crucial runs, and in the bottom half, they shut down Yunlin’s offense to secure the win, keeping their elimination-round hopes alive.

Although Kaohsiung has won both recent games, their batting performance has been underwhelming. In yesterday’s game against Chiayi City, the team managed only three hits. Today, they recorded just four hits.

Head coach Shih Hung-chieh admitted that offensive coordination has been poor, particularly in the early part of the batting order where on-base percentages have been low. The coaching staff will hold a meeting to evaluate whether lineup adjustments are necessary.

Kaohsiung started pitcher Cheng Pin-shen today, who threw 83 pitches over six innings, allowing three hits and recording six strikeouts without giving up a run. He was credited with a no-decision.

Shih explained that Cheng was not on a strict pitch count, noting that in elimination games, a loss means the end of the road. Since the score remained close, the decision was made to let Cheng complete six innings. (Edited by Chang Ya-ching) 1150616