Gold for the USA

The level of play was very high and the baseball crazy citizens of Chinese Taipei could certainly appreciate the international play. From July 24th to August 1st the second edition of the World University Baseball Championship took place in Tainan, Chinese Taipei.

Seven Teams

The Championship started with a setback as the Cuban team, the defending University World Champions, announced that it had to withdraw from the WUC due to lack of the necessary funds to cover the travel costs to Chinese Taipei. Because of the withdrawal only seven teams took part in the Championship: Canada, Chinese Taipei, Czech Republic, Japan, Korea, Mexico and USA. Mexico was a newcomer while China, Cuba, France and Italy, which where present at the inaugural edition, failed to send a team. Nevertheless, the level of play was very high and the baseball crazy citizens of Chinese Taipei could certainly appreciate the international play.

President of Chinese Taipei, Mr. Chen Shui-bian & Mayor of Tainan, Mr. Hsu Tian-Tsair

Opening Ceremony

Baseball is the national sport in Chinese Taipei. Therefore it was hardly any surprise, but nevertheless a great honour, that the President of Chinese Taipei, Mr. Chen Shui-bian, attended the Opening Ceremony of this 2nd World University Baseball Championship. Besides the President of Chinese Taipei, the following VIPS were also present: Mr. Tu Chen-Sheng, Minister of Education; Mr. Chuan-Show Chen, Minister of the National Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, Mr. Eric Shoou- Kuen Liu, Assistant Director International Department of the National Council on Physical Fitness and Sports; Dr. Hsu Tian-Tsiar, Mayor Of Taninan; Mrs. Tsai-Mei Lin, CTUSF President; Dr. Wei Shiang-Ming, Secretary-General;

Mr. Tien-Rein Lee, President Chinese Culture Unviersity; Mr. Tom C.H. Peng, President of the Chinese Taipei Baseball Association; Mr. Guiseppe Guillizzoni, IBAF Technical Delegate, Mr. Chen Tai-Cheng, FISU Assessor, Mr. Richard Naylor, FISU CT Chairman Baseball, Dr. Koing-Bo Kwun, FISU Medical Commission member and Mr. Laurent Briel, FISU Director of Championships. A cultural program took place prior to the Opening Ceremony with a traditional dragon dance, a modern dance group and the local youth music band. A number of TV channels broadcasted the Opening Ceremony live, as well as the opening game between USA and host TPE. The championship opener was a genuine thriller up to the last inning. In the ninth inning TPE almost came back to tie the Americans. Some 8,000 spectators witnessed the Opening Ceremony and the game.

The Championship

Team USA played an outstanding tournament holding a perfect 8-0 record. The Americans were eager to get the gold medal in the game they invented after settling for the silver at the 1st WUC Baseball in Messina, Italy. Team USA opened the championship with a game against host Chinese Taipei following the Opening Ceremony. After their first game it was clear the Americans were focussed on winning that gold medal when they beat their hosts in the first game 2:1.

The battle for the bronze: KOR vs. TPE

Medal Games

In the Bronze Medal Game between Korea and host Chinese Taipei, the latter could not keep its early lead and lost to Team Korea 3:1. Chinese Taipei's starter, Ying-feng Tsai, who threw eight scoreless innings in the preliminary round with nine Ks, gave up three runs in (1 earned) in 6.1 innings. He struck out four and allowed three hits while taking the loss. An outfield error by Chinese Taipei early in the seventh inning led to two unearned runs. Team Chinese Taipei wasted a great opportunity at the end of the eighth inning while runners on second base and third base with one out. Korea starter, Ki-Pyo Kim, gave up one run over 6.1 innings and took the game. Team Korea won the third place while in 2002 they were fifth. Chinese Taipei ended fourth place just as in 2002.

Team USA wins the gold medal

The Mayor of Tainan at the Closing Ceremony

In the Gold Medal Game between Japan and the USA, Team Japan's two runs in the first flame did not give them sufficient support whereas Team USA won another comeback win, beating Japan 4:2. Team USA holds a perfect 8-0 record. Team Japan had a quick start by scoring two runs in the top of the first inning. Japan starter, Yosuhiro Ichiba, threw three scoreless innings but got two balls which led USA to score two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Three hits, including a triple, added two more runs for Team USA. USA starter, Luke Hochevar, threw seven innings with seven strikes and no walks, gave up five hits while taking the win. USA lead-off man, Prew Stubbs, the only player with multiple hits, had a single and triple tonight. USA third base man, Ryan Zimmerman, was selected as the Most Valuable Player for this championship.

Closing Ceremony

Right after the final game the Award Ceremony took place, followed by the Closing Ceremony where Dr. Hsu Tian-Tsair, Mayor of Tainan and Dr. Tsai-Mei Lin, CTUSF President thanked all participants, organizers and citizens of Tainan city. Then Dr. Chong Yang KIM, FISU Assessor, officially closed the 2nd World University Championship. Afterwards, the OC threw a farewell party were the athletes and volunteers started to exchange their uniforms, t-shirts and pins.