Chinese Taipei Claims 18th LLWS Title, First Since 1996

Chinese Taipei triumphed in the Little League Baseball World Series, defeating Nevada 7-0 and securing its first championship since 1996. This victory marked the end of a 29-year title drought for Chinese Taipei, which has now claimed a total of 18 championships, the most of any nation besides the United States.

Lin Chin-Tse delivered an outstanding performance on the mound, retiring the first 13 batters he faced and allowing only one hit over five innings. The 12-year-old right-hander from Taipei showcased his talent by striking out multiple batters with fastballs exceeding 80 mph, a remarkable feat given the distance of only 46 feet from the mound to home plate at this level of play.

In addition to his pitching prowess, Lin contributed offensively with a crucial three-run triple during a five-run rally in the fifth inning. His long-standing experience in the tournament included a previous outing where he allowed just one hit against Venezuela and a three-inning start against Mexico.

Chinese Taipei capitalized on Nevada’s miscues throughout the game, taking advantage of four wild pitches and a passed ball. Jian Zih-De got the scoring underway in the second inning by reaching home after a series of wild pitches. Chen Shi-Rong followed up with a run in the third inning, scoring on a throwing error by Nevada.

The only hit for Nevada came from Garrett Gallegos, who managed to break up Lin’s perfect game with a single to left field in the fifth inning. Unfortunately for Nevada, this moment was short-lived as Gallegos was caught in a double play when Grayson Miranda lined out to second base.

This championship game, held in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, marked Nevada’s first appearance in the finals of the Little League Baseball World Series. The last international team to win the title was Japan in 2017. With this latest victory, Chinese Taipei continues to solidify its legacy in Little League history, further demonstrating its dominance in youth baseball on the international stage.