Chinese-Taipei: We came here to win

Coaches of the Chinese-Taipei Junior and Big League teams have only one goal: win and defend the title in the 2015 Asia Pacific Junior, Senior, and Big League Baseball Regional Tournament.

The Chinese-Taipei Junior League team members jog around the Oleai track and field facility as they wait for their turn to practice at the Miguel Basa ”Tan Ge” Pangelinan Softball Field. Chinese-Taipei is the reigning Asia Pacific champion and also won the 2014 World Junior League Series. (Jon Perez)

The Chinese-Taipei teams are from Tai Chung City in Central Taiwan with its Junior League squad winning the World Series crown last year after a 9-1 decision over U.S. champion Southwest Texas.

And with five members of that victorious Chinese-Taipei Junior League team returning for their last tour of duty, manager Lan Wen Chueh has all the reason to be confident they can earn another berth to Taylor, Michigan.

“The team comes from Tai Chung City and I have five players who are returning from last year’s team that won the World Series. I’m confident that we can defend the title,” said Lan yesterday.

Chinese-Taipei’s Junior and Big League squads arrived on Saipan at 1:45am yesterday and both teams had some light practice sessions at the pitching and batting cages near the Tan Ko ballfield, the main hub of the 10-day regional tournament.

“The weather is good and this is our first time here on Saipan. We just had some light practice today (yesterday). Our only concern is how we are going to adjust on the food and water,” said Lan.

“As much as possible, I don’t want my players to get sick. I want them to stay healthy for the games.”

Lan said that they are 90 percent ready for the tournament though he is also wary on how the Australians play. “We are prepared and ready to play. But I have no idea how Australia plays. We’ll see it first time on the field.”

This will be the first time that Australia is joining the Junior League division. The Philippines, Guam, Hong Kong, and host CNMI are the other competing teams in the division.

Big League division coach Tsai Ching Feng, meanwhile, said that though they have a different team from last year’s champion squad, they are still confident of their chances.

“We can’t underestimate the other teams but our goal is to defend the title,” Tsai said.

Tsai also does not see any problem with the team’s short preparation for the competition. The squad had only one month of practice before the tournament.

“The players all came from one school so there are no more adjustments. They know how to play and they are quick to gel. They have been playing very well,” he added.

Endurance, especially if the weather is too hot, is Tsai’s concern and he said the team needs improvement in this department.

Chinese-Taipei’s Junior League team is staying at the Aquarius Beach Tower, while the Big leaguers are billeted at Mango Resort.

Play ball
Fourteen teams from six countries begin their final step toward this year’s World Series when the 2015 Asia Pacific Junior, Senior, and Big League Baseball Regional Tournament starts today at the Francisco M. Palacios Baseball Field.

Host CNMI, the reigning Seniors champion, will be competing in all three divisions along with Guam and the Philippines, while Chinese-Taipei will try to defend their Junior and Big League crowns. Australia will be competing for the first time in the Junior League division, while Hong Kong entered teams in the Junior and Senior leagues.

Opening ceremony will start at 3pm so regional tournament organizers are requesting all squads to be at the field at 2pm for the final preparation of the parade of teams. The Saipan Majors All-Stars, who will represent the CNMI in the Asia Pacific Regional Tournament in Guilin, China next month, will also join the parade.

The CNMI faces Guam in the lone game (Big League) after the opening rites.

Tournament format will have the Top 4 teams in the Junior League advancing to the playoff round where the No. 1 finisher takes on No. 4 and the second best battles the third-ranked squad. The winners duel for the title.

The Senior and Big leaguers will play in a double round robin format with the Top 2 teams in each division slugging it out for the World Series berths.

A final managers meeting was held yesterday afternoon at the Mango Resort conference room and questions and other concerns of all competing teams were addressed.

The Miguel Basa “Tan Ge” Pangelinan Softball Field is reserved for practice and warm-ups of each team before their scheduled game. Tournament organizers have requested all squads to be at the field one hour before their scheduled match, while their game rosters, including substitutes, must be submitted to the chief statistician 30 minutes before their game.