Koreans end Taiwanese Pony reign in the rain

MANILA, Philippines - South Korea ended Chinese Taipei’s reign with a 6-5 squeaker in their  showdown for the Pony International Asia Pacific Bronco Division crown on a rainy Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

Shin Geon Hee delivered two RBIs and one run on a 2-for-3 clip to lead Korea’s offensive while ace pitcher Kim Dae Han shut out the rallying Taiwanese in the last four innings as the Koreans prevailed in the tightly-fought match twice delayed by heavy downpour spawned by tropical depression “Isang.”

The pulsating conquest, which avenged Korea’s 2-6 setback to the Taiwanese in the elims, gave the clouters from the cities of Seoul, Gyunggi-do and Chunching-do their first ever stint in the Pony International Bronco World Series slated Aug. 1-4 in Los Alamitos, California.

“The boys played well and they displayed teamwork and great team spirit throughout the tournament,” Korea coach Lee Hee Jun, whose wards reached the world series for the premier division for the first time, said through an interpreter.

The Philippine Habagat, who lost to Taiwan in the semis (0-15) and settled for fourth overall in the six-nation qualifiers, ended their campaign on a high note as they nipped Indonesia in the battle for the Southeast Asian diadem, 12-0.

Stephen delos Santos, Naoki Akita, RJ Aranzanzo, and Enzo Montemayor pitched a combined two-hitter in the seven-inning encounter while the Habagat bombarded Indonesia with 13 hits as the Pinoys reasserted their dominance of SEA.

Korea outlasted Taiwan in a back-and-forth finale that took nearly four hours to settle as the umpire was forced to suspend play twice in the bottom fifth, the first lasting 20 minutes and the second reaching an hour. 

The Koreans seized a 6-3 cushion in the top of the third, and then with Kim holding fort in the last four innings, weathered the fightback of the Taiwanese under the rains to secure the title in the four-day regionals backed by McDonald’s, Purefoods, Gatorade, Magnolia Purewater, Nutrilite, Jamba Juice, Angel’s, Country Style Donuts. 

“It’s a very exciting game and I’m satisfied with our performance,” said Lee.

Leadoff batter Kim Geon Woo quickly got things going for Korea as he slammed a home run that Shin followed up with a run-scoring double for a 2-0 initiative.

Taiwan wrested the upperhand in the second,  3-2, via RBI singles by Chang Heng and Wu Chen Hua and a sacrifice fly by Hung Chin Yu that drove Wu home.

Korea swayed the game back to their side with a four-run binge in the top of the third with Shin’s run-scoring double and sub Cho Won Bin’s two-run single giving them a 6-3 cushion.

The Taiwanese struck back with Cheng Yi Hsuan’s two-run homer in the bottom third to make it 6-5. But Kim and Koreans held the former champs scoreless the rest of way to complete the upset.