Lin Chin-Tse wasn’t entirely without flaw.
However, he displayed ample proficiency with an impressive one-hit showing on the pitching mound Sunday, guiding Chinese Taipei to a 7-0 triumph against Nevada in the Little League World Series championship match.
The LLWS title represents the inaugural win for an International team since Japan’s victory in 2017. This title marks the 18th for a team hailing from Chinese Taipei, setting a record, although it’s their first since 1996.
Chinese Taipei progressed to Sunday’s finale, showcasing strong pitching in South Williamsport, emphasized by Lin’s contribution on the mound. This pattern persisted on Sunday, facing a Nevada team known for its powerful hitting, which reached the final after an 8-2 victory over Connecticut on Saturday to secure the U.S. championship.
Lin remained unblemished through four innings
Nevertheless, Nevada’s hitters couldn’t match Lin’s performance on Sunday. Lin pitched flawlessly through four innings before Nevada managed to get its first player on base, thanks to a groundball through the infield, enabling Garrett Gallegos to reach first base in the fifth. Still, this didn’t alter the score.
By that point, Chinese Taipei had established a 2-0 advantage. And a double-play concluded the inning, preventing Nevada from scoring. Subsequently, Chinese Taipei’s hitters surged forward, widening the gap with a five-run burst in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Chen Qi-Sheng then took the pitcher’s mound, delivering a scoreless top of the sixth to secure Chinese Taipei’s win. Lin’s contribution included five scoreless innings, with four strikeouts, while allowing only one baserunner through Gallegos’ fourth-inning single. He didn’t concede any walks.
Lin’s outstanding performance during LLWS
This performance culminated in an impressive LLWS journey for Lin, who pitched 11 scoreless innings across four appearances in South Williamsport. During these 11 innings, Lin achieved 20 strikeouts and permitted merely two hits.
Lin, aged 12, had previously reached a fastball speed of 82 mph during LLWS play. According to ESPN, this corresponds to batters facing a 107 mph pitch from a Major League Baseball mound. Lin didn’t have to consistently pitch that fast on Sunday to repeatedly confuse Nevada’s hitters and guarantee Chinese Taipei’s first LLWS title in 29 years.
“I’m very content,” Lin conveyed to ESPN through an interpreter after the match. “There was a 29-year absence. And now, we’ve finally clinched a championship.”
The shutout victory in Sunday’s final marked the fourth in five LLWS games for Chinese Taipei, equaling a tournament milestone.
Chinese Taipei hitters displayed a productive day
Following a scoreless initial inning, Chinese Taipei broke through on the scoreboard Sunday due to a wild pitch from Nevada’s starting pitcher, Luke D’Ambrosio, allowing Jian Zih-De to score from third base.
That proved to be the only run that Chinese Taipei required, but they added plenty of insurance before the game concluded. Eventually, Chinese Taipei reached base 14 times, achieving seven hits and securing seven walks across six innings.
Lin also stood out as his team’s most effective hitter, amassing three RBIs with a 1-for-3 performance at the plate while batting leadoff.
