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2018 PINTO INTERNATIONAL BASEBALL CLASSIC



Paradera, Aruba and Lawrenceville, Illinois both entered the championship game of the 2018 Pinto International Baseball Classic undefeated with identical 6-0 records. Both teams' offenses had been prolific all tournament long, averaging over 10 runs per game. 

The championship game lived up to expectations, as both teams battled into the late innings of the game. In the top of the fifth inning with one out, Lawrenceville's Wade Keepes scorched a ball down the third base line and ended up with a triple. On the next at-bat, Justin Herron brought Keepes home with a single, getting Lawrenceville within a run (4-3). Following a pop out, Carson McCullough doubled to center field, advancing Herron to third. Unfortunately for Lawrenceville, a ground out ended what could have been a big inning, as two runners in scoring position were left stranded.

It was then that Paradera took control of the game. Lee Tai Keng, Omar Gonzalez Correa and Zylon Rafine hit back-to-back-to-back doubles, extending Paradera's lead to 6-3. Justino De Leca singled, which advanced Rafine to third, before Ansheal Berkel knocked a ground ball into right field that scored Rafine (7-3). Berkel scored the final run of the inning, when Sicnarf Kelly also drove a ground ball into right field.

Lawrenceville had one last chance in the top of the sixth. With two outs, Westin Floyd and Brayden Carie singled, and Ross Moore brought them both home with a double to center field (8-5). But a pop out ended the rally and the game.

Kelly paced Paradera with three hits, including a triple. Four others in the Aruba lineup collected two hits, including Rafine, who had two doubles. For Lawrenceville, Herron, McCullough and Moore led the team with two hits apiece, while Moore led the team with two RBI. 

Paradera won its first-ever Pinto International Baseball Classic title. This year marks the first title for an international team, following Chesterfield, Virginia and Garner, North Carolina's championships in 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Tournament Stats
Championship Bracket
Consolation Bracket
Pool Play Game Schedule/Scores

Champion: Paradera, Aruba


Finalist: Lawrenceville, Illinois


Consolation Champion: Mt. Vernon, Illinois


Consolation Finalist: Manila, Philippines

Mustang-9 World Series 2018



Dates: July 27-30
Location: Walnut, California

West Zone Champion Mililani, Hawaii knew it had the talent, coming into the Mustang-9 World Series, to take home the title, just as long as the team's fiercest opponent, West Zone Finalist Placentia, California didn't cause any chaos in the team's plans. Mililani defeated Placentia 9-4 in the teams' first match-up, before they met up in the game of the tournament, a 5-4 Mililani victory, in the semifinals. On the other side of the bracket, Mexico Zone Champion Tijuana, Baja California 10-runned each of its three opponents en route to meeting up with Mililani in the finals. The tournament was highlighted by two combined hitters, one by Tijuana and the other Placentia. In the championship game, Mililani's starting pitcher Jonah Brub pitched a gem, as his offense provided him plenty support in the mercy rule 10-0, five-inning game. Mililani won the state of Hawaii its first-ever Mustang-9 World Series title.

Tournament Stats

Mustang-9 World Series Championship Game Recap: Mililani, Hawaii 10  Tijuana, Mexico 0 (F/5)

Highlights


In a clash of titans, West Zone Champion Mililani, Hawaii and Mexico Zone Champion Tijuana, Baja California, both undefeated, met in the championship game of the Mustang-9 World Series. Thanks in part to a sensational pitching performance by starter Jonah Brub, Mililani shutout Tijuana 10-0 in five innings.

Brub’s performance was the deciding factor in the game, as he pitched a gem, going five innings and allowing only two hits with six strikeouts. Brub held Mexico’s two best hitters, Ricardo Aguilar and Rafael Rodriguez, hitless on the day.

The final game marked the first time in Mustang-9 World Series history that a non-California team would take home the trophy. Tijuana defeated every opponent by double digits, forcing the mercy rule to end games. Mililani, too, terrorized the bracket with strong showings, fulfilling the inevitability of a final game between the two teams.

A walk to Jonah Parker began the latter half of the second inning and an error by Tijuana’s shortstop allowed Parker to take second. Pitcher Irvings Garcia and Eleu Colburn engaged in a deep battle on a full count, but Garcia won, forcing a flyout to center for the second out. Hoshio Oyama stood in the batter’s box with two on base and worked another full count before Garcia loaded the bases on a walk.

Garcia pitched himself into a jam, which led to Katano reaching base off an error, driving in the first run of the game. Ryeder Takahashi singled to left and drove another run in, pressuring Tijuana into a mound visit early in the game. Another single to right by Kawahakui drove two more in and Tijuana found themselves down 4-0 before Kawahakui was caught stealing second, finally ending the inning.

Mililani once again came through in the clutch with two outs in the third. A walk and a stolen base by Eriz Passi cost Tijuana, when Trycen Kaimiola singled to drive Passi in.

Tijuana was forced to pull Garcia for pitcher Jesus Castro, who immediately gave up a first pitch double to Oyama, which added yet another run (6-0).

Opportunities for a comeback was starting to run out for Tijuana, who had yet to even get a hit against Brub. The spell was finally broken when Matthew Delgado singled to center and took second off a sacrifice bunt from Edgar Rubio. Castro came to bat and struck out, before Castro grounded out to first, killing the brief rally Delgado attempted to start.

Mililani again began strong with a single to left by Passi, which brought Delgado out to pitch, who began with a strikeout. A sacrifice bunt by Kaimiola brought Parker home. A passed ball on a routine groundout sent Kaimiola home for another run. Rubio came in to pitch the one out and the bases loaded, but he hit Takahashi with a pitch and drove yet another run in.

A single by Kawahakui drove the last runner in, giving Mililani a 10-0 lead, ending the game on the mercy rule.

Takahashi paced Mililani with three hits, while Kawahakui led the offense with three RBI.

Mililani’s victory granted the team its first ever Mustang-9 World Series title, the first for the state of Hawaii. Meanwhile, Mexico finishes as the World Series runners-up yet again, after Navajoa, Sonora finished as the 2017 M9WS finalist.

Box Score
Full Game Archived Video



Champion: Mililani, Hawaii



Finalist: Tijuana, Mexico



Wilson Sports Batting Champion: Ricardo Aguilar (Tijuana, Mexico) 8-for-12 (.667 BA), three doubles, 14 RBI, four runs scored



Easton ERA Award Winner: Jonah Brub (Mililani, Hawaii) 8 IP, 0.00 ERA, four hits allowed, 12 Ks, No walks

Mustang World Series 2018



Dates: Aug. 3-6
Location: Youngsville, Louisiana

The cream of the crop rose to the top, as Mexico Zone Champion Tijuana, Baja California and West Zone Champion Placentia, California went in to the championship game undefeated. In a classic title bout that was highlighted by Tijuana's five-run comeback in the bottom of the fifth, Mexico won its first-ever Mustang World Series title in the nation's history.

Tournament Stats

Mustang World Series Championship Game Recap: Tijuana, Mexico 6  Placentia, California 5

Snaring victory out of the jaws of defeat, Mexico Zone Champion Tijuana, Baja California won the Mustang World Series title, after scoring five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 6-5 lead over West Zone Champion Placentia, California that it did not surrender.

After a groundout, Tijuana's Pablo Hernandez got the bottom of the fifth inning started with a double, trailing 5-1. Jonathan Ayon singled on a hard ground ball through the left side, scoring Hernandez to bring it to 5-2. Luis Lizarraga walked, before Cruz Galaviz hit a double of his own down the left field line. Galaviz's double plated Ayon and set Lizarraga on third base.

Mexico's Julio Zamora came through with arguably the biggest hit of the game next. He singled on a ground ball through the right side that not only scored Lizarraga, but also Galaviz to tie the game at five. Jorge Baez singled to put runners on first and second, as Placentia turned to Austin Gerken on the mound. The first batter Gerken faced, Gilberto Salgado was hit by a pitch to load the bases. 

Nicolas Song grounded out, but during the play, Zamora was able to score from third to give Tijuana the lead 6-5. On the mound for the Mexico Zone Champions in the seventh was Oswaldo Ortega. Ortega gave up a single to Placentia's Owen Smith to start off the inning. Smith stole second base, but Ortega got the next batter to flyout and Smith remained at second. Blake Lau came in to pinch hit and he hit an infield single that also moved Smith to third base. On the next at-bat to Chase Hiatt, Lau took second uncontested.    

The play of the game came when Hiatt hit a ball back to Ortega and Galaviz, the catcher, tagged Smith out at home to save the game-tying run. Ortega then induced a ground ball for the final out of the game in a classic finish.

Prior to the five-run bottom of the fifth, Placentia appeared to be cruising to victory, as Smith was pitching a great game for the West Zone Champions through four innings and the team had scored four in the top of the third. Ortega's final line for the ball game was 3.2 innings, one unearned run allowed on four hits with a strikeout. 

Ayon led Mexico with three hits as part of a 3-for-3 day with an RBI and two runs scored. Galaviz and Zamora tied for the team lead in RBI with two each. For Placentia, Gerken was a standout offensively with his three RBI.

Tijuana won the first-ever Mustang World Series title in Mexico Zone history by beating a Placentia team that had outscored its opponents 30-5 in three games. It is the first title to go to an international team since Caguas, Puerto Rico won the 2009 Mustang World Series.

Box Score

Champion: Tijuana, Mexico


Finalist: Placentia, California


Easton ERA Award Winner: Oswaldo Ortega - Tijuana, Mexico (0.00 ERA) in 6 IP, five hits allowed, four strikeouts


Wilson Sports Batting Champion: Jonathan Ayon - Tijuana, Mexico (.700 BA - 7-for-10) with a triple, four RBI, eight runs scored and two walks
(Photo needed. Please email [email protected])

Bronco-11 World Series 2018



Dates: July 27-30
Location: Chesterfield, Virginia

Defending Bronco-11 World Series Champion Chicago (AFCA), Illinois came into the tournament with the mission of defending its title. The team picked up two decisive victories before edging a hard-nosed Chesterfield, Virginia team 6-5 in the semifinals, who went on a late-game rally to make it one of the most competitive of the tournament. On the other side of the bracket, West Zone Champion Escondido, California and East Zone Champion Wilmington (Winter Park), North Carolina battled each other in three hard-fought contests that carried over into an "if necessary" game on Championship Monday. Escondido won the duel with Wilmington, but didn't have enough left in the tank against Chicago when it mattered most. Chicago starting pitcher De Andre Butler and his defense shutout the Californians en route to victory and back-to-back titles.

Tournament Stats

Bronco-11 World Series Championship Game Recap: Chicago (AFCA), Illinois 6  Escondido, California 0

The time had come for Chicago (AFCA), Illinois to defend its Bronco-11 World Series title, when it squared off West Zone Champion Escondido, California in the championship game. Considering Escondido was just coming off an "if necessary" game victory over Wilmington (Winter Park), North Carolina, the rest and experience played a part for Chicago, but it was starting pitcher De Andre Butler who stole the show.

Butler tossed a complete game shut out, as the North Zone Champions took home the title for the second-straight year, in a 6-0 victory. Butler only allowed four hits and a walk, while striking out two on the evening. 

AFCA started the game with center fielder Ezra Essex reaching on a double. Essex was driven home when pitcher DeAndre Butler hit a sacrifice fly to center field. Butler held Escondido scoreless in the first two innings. Chicago added more runs in the top of the third, when Essex scored his second run of the game on an Ethan Moore grounded out to third base.

Butler helped his own cause, when he scored later in the third on a Brandon Stinson single. Illinois held a 3-0 lead going to the bottom of the inning. Once again, Butler stood tall on the mound by not allowing a single base runner in the third or the fourth. In the fifth, Chicago's offense picked up where it left off by adding a pair of runs.

The first run crossed home plate when Butler, reached on a walk, stole both second and third and scored thanks to Stinson's RBI double. Stinson later scored on a wild pitch and passed ball. Holding a 5-0 lead, AFCA looked to Butler to again hold Escondido’s offense in check and he did just that. In the fifth and sixth innings, Butler allowed four total base runners and two hits.

Chicago added its final touches to the game in the final frame, when Moore stole home and gave the defending champs a 6-0 lead. Butler went back out to the mound as he looked for the complete game shutout. Escondido got a man on with one out, but Butler recorded the final two outs he needed to finish the deal.

In the final game of the tournament, Essex shined offensively for Chicago. He went three-for-four, while scoring twice. Likewise, Stinson finished the day 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored. Butler was the defensive star for AFCA thanks to sensational performance on the mound, but he also scored twice and brought a run home, when he drew a walk.

Chicago is the second team to repeat as Bronco-11 World Series champions since host Chesterfield, Virginia won three in a row from 2012-2014.


Box Score

Champion: Chicago (AFCA), Illinois


Finalist: Escondido, California
(Photo needed. Please email [email protected])

Wilson Sports Batting Champion: Conner Hedgepeth, Chesterfield, Virginia - 6-for-13 (.462 BA), two doubles, seven runs scored

Easton ERA Award Winner:
Ian Fisher, Escondido, California - 7 IP (0.00 ERA), six hits allowed, two Ks, walk



Bronco World Series 2018



Dates: Aug. 3-6
Location: Los Alamitos, California

The tenacity and competitiveness of the seven participating teams at the 2018 Bronco World Series were on full display over the four-day tournament. Host Los Alamitos, after falling 4-3 in a hard-fought game against Mexico Zone Champion Mexico City (Liga Olmeca), ripped off three-consecutive victories, before a rematch against Mexico City. Fellow West Zone team, Champion East Oahu, Hawaii gave the hosts all they wanted in an 8-7 game. On the other side of the bracket, South Zone Champion Palmview, Texas avenged a first night loss to North Zone Champion Chicago (AFCA), Illinois before being eliminated by eventual champion Kaohsiung City, Chinese Taipei in a 4-1 defensive duel. Liga Olmeca upended and eliminated the Los Alamitos in the semifinals 5-2, but couldn't find the magic against Kaohsiung City, who rolled to a lopsided championship game victory. Chinese Taipei brought back the BWS title back to the PONY Asia-Pacific Zone for the seventh time.

Tournament Stats

Bronco World Series Championship Game Recap: Kaohsiung City, Chinese Taipei 15  Mexico City (Liga Olemca), Mexico 0 (F/5)

Asia-Pacific Zone Champion Kaohsiung City, Chinese-Taipei had previously outscored its opponents 23-3 in its three victories in three games at the Bronco World Series in Los Alamitos, California. The team’s final win was its most impressive performance in the tournament’s most important game, the championship game. Kaohsiung City capped off its undefeated run to a title with a 15-0 10-run rule victory in five innings over Mexico Zone Champion Mexico City (Liga Olmeca).

A nine-run top of the first inning set the tone for the game and paved the way for a decisive Chinese Taipei victory.

The team’s first two batters, Lin, Shao-Lun and Lin, Shao-Wei hit singles to start off the game. The next batter hit a ground ball to the shortstop. Lin, Shao-Lun got thrown out at third for a force out, but a bad throw to first resulted in an error and Lin, Shao-Wei came around to score for the first run of the game.

Chinese Taipei showed no signs of slowing down. The team’s next two batters, Syu, Siang-Jyun and Lai, Chia-Feng both smacked doubles into the outfield and each brought in a runner (3-0). Following CT’s breakout offensively after the first five batters, Mexico decided to make a pitching change.

Chinese Taipei continued their offensive onslaught, even with the pitching change. A fly out brought in the fourth run of the game after Lai tagged up. A ground ball caused a Mexico error in the next at-bat, and Chinese-Taipei saw its fifth and sixth runs of the inning cross home plate.

Lin, Shao-Wei came back up to bat for a second time in the first inning, and he a smacked ball out to the gap for a two-RBI double (7-0). Errant throws rattled Mexico once again, and Lin was able to make it all the way home. Lin’s run scored made it 9-0 in the first inning.

The Asia-Pacific Zone Champions’ defense was arguably just as good as its offense. Starting pitcher Sung, Po-Han started the game and finished with a line of four innings pitched. No runs were allowed on one hit and a walk. He struck out six for the win. Syu pitched the fifth inning. He walked a batter, but then struck out the side.

Chinese-Taipei continued to pour on the runs. Its offense scored two in the second inning, then two more in the third inning to make it 13-0 after three.

The Asia-Pacific Zone Champions closed the game out strong by scoring two more in the fifth and earned the 15-0 victory after the mercy rule was called.

Six players recorded multi-hit games for Kaohsiung City in the game. Lai and Syu led the offense with four total bases, while Lai was the team leader with three RBI. Sung and Lin each had a team-high three runs scored.

After the game, Chinese-Taipei's Sung was named the tournament's Wilson Sports Batting Champion, batting over .500 throughout the 2018 Bronco World Series (picture below). Host Los Alamitos, California's Adam Louiso won the Easton ERA Award with a 0.00 ERA in five innings pitched (picture below).

It is the second Bronco World Series title for Kaohsiung City in the last three years and the seventh overall for the nation of Chinese Taipei, since the team won its first title in 1995.

 Box Score

Champion: Kaohsiung City, Chinese Taipei


Finalist: Mexico City (Liga Olmeca), Mexico


Wilson Sports Batting Champion: Sung, Po-Han (Kaohsiung City, Chinese Taipei) 6-for-10 (.600 BA), double, RBI and five runs scored


Easton ERA Award Winner: Adam Louiso (Los Alamitos, California) 5 IP, (0.00 ERA), four hits allowed 


Pony-13 World Series 2018



Dates: July 27-30
Location: Whittier, California

Asia-Pacific Zone Champion Seoul, Korea used the same formula in 2018, as the team did in 2017, to win back-to-back Pony-13 World Series titles, and that was pitch phenomenally and collect timely hits with runners on base. The Koreans allowed only three runs in their four tournament games, while the seven-man pitching staff had a 31-4 strikeout to walk ratio. The hurlers were dominant, especially in the championship game, when D.H. Lee had a perfect game going into the sixth inning. South Zone Champion Brownsville, Texas and West Zone Champion Placentia, California had memorable runs in the tournament. Brownsville overcame a first game loss to defending Pony-13 World Series Finalist and East Zone Champion Johnstown, Pennsylvania by winning the rematch. Placentia gave Johnstown its first tournament loss 8-7, before eliminating Brownsville 3-1 in a semifinal battle. 

Tournament Stats

Pony-13 World Series Championship Game Recap: Seoul, Korea 9  Placentia, California 0

Highlights


Asia-Pacific Zone Representative Seoul, Korea became back-to-back Pony-13 World Series Champions, after defeating the West Zone’s Champion Placentia, California 9-0 at York Field in Whittier, California in the championship game. The contest was highlighted by Seoul’s combined no-hitter by pitchers, D.H. Lee and J.W. Moon. Lee did the bulk of the work, going 6.1 innings, striking out nine and walking just one batter.

Seoul’s leadoff man J.W. Moon got on base after getting hit by a pitch to start off the game. A few batters later, S.J. Park launched a bomb to right field and brought in Moon for the early 1-0 lead after the first inning.

Moon came up to bat in the fourth with D.H. Lee on third base. Moon hit a ball that the Placentia shortstop couldn’t control, and D.H. Lee crossed home to give Seoul a 2-0 lead after four innings.

S.J. Park kept the scoring going for Seoul in the fifth inning with a double to right field. Park’s double allowed J.W. Lee and D.C. Kim to score the third and fourth runs for Seoul.

D.H. Lee was dealing on the mound for Seoul. Lee was perfect in the ballgame until he walked a batter in the top of the sixth inning. Placentia was unable to do anything with the runner, though, and left him stranded on first.

When Seoul came up to bat in the sixth, leadoff man J.H. Kim was able to get on base with T.K. Yeo coming to bat.

Yeo smacked a ball out past the Placentia right fielder and rounded the bases for a triple that brought J.H. Kim home to score. Two more runs came across to score a couple batters later, making it a 7-0 lead for Seoul.

Seoul tallied a total of five runs in the sixth inning and put the game out of reach for Placentia.

S.J. Park led the way with his bat for Seoul. He went 2-for-4, driving in two runners and scoring twice in the championship game win.

Seoul’s 9-0 win earned the team its second-straight Pony-13 World Series title at York Field in Whittier. Following the game, D.H. Lee was awarded the Easton ERA Award, after finishing the tournament with a 0.00 ERA on 8.1 innings pitched. J.W. Lee won the Wilson Sports Batting Championship, after finishing the P13WS with a .571 batting average.

Box Score

Champion: Seoul, Korea


Finalist: Placentia, California


Wilson Sports Batting Champion: J.W. Lee (Seoul, Korea) 8-for-14 (.571 BA), double, five RBI, five runs scored


Easton ERA Award Winner: D.H. Lee (Seoul, Korea) 8.1 IP, (0.00 ERA), 11 Ks, BB

Pony World Series 2018



Dates: Aug. 10-15
Location: Washington, Pennsylvania

The 2018 DICK'S Sporting Goods Pony League World Series was highlighted by a couple of firsts. Anny Rivera of Brownsville, Texas became the first female player to play in the 67-year history of the Pony League World Series. Easton ERA Award Winner Wu, Sin-Jie of Taipei County, Chinese Taipei pitched the first-ever complete perfect game in a 4-0 victory over Host Area Champion Youngstown, Ohio. Rain cost the tournament a day and a half of play and forced Tuesday's schedule to be condensed to six, five-inning games. Caribbean Zone Champion Yaguate, Dominican Republic gave Asia-Pacific Zone Champion Taipei County, Chinese Taipei all it wanted in the semifinals and came one play away from forcing an "if necessary" game, but ultimately fell 5-3 in a thriller. West Zone Champion Long Beach, California outlasted a scrappy and tenacious South Zone Champion Brownsville, Texas team in the semifinals to match up with Taipei County. Ultimately, Chinese Taipei's pitching was too good for the Long Beach bats to handle, as Tien, Tzu-Chieh nearly went a complete game, while allowing just one run for the win. It was Chinese Taipei's third PLWS title in the last four years and the nation's ninth overall, the most of any international country.

Full-Game Video Archives
Tournament Stats

Pony League World Series Championship Game Recap: Taipei County, Chinese Taipei 3  Long Beach, California 1

Highlights


Tien, Tzu-Chieh allowed just one run, two hits, a walk and struck out 13 in 6.2 innings of work on the mound, before being taken out due to the 95-pitch daily maximum, in Asia-Pacific Zone Champion Taipei County, Chinese Taipei's 3-1 victory over West Zone Champion Long Beach, California to win the 2018 DICK'S Sporting Goods Pony League World Series title.

This year's title marked the third in the last four years for a team from Chinese Taipei and the nation's ninth overall, the most of any international country and only second to the state of California (22). 

Coming into the championship game, this year's match-up marked the third time Long Beach and a team from Chinese Taipei met in the championship game. The two previous encounters in 2008 and 2012 were won by Long Beach. Chinese Taipei had already cemented itself as the dynasty of the last decade coming into the game, as the team was making its seventh championship game appearance with three titles to boast. 

The only hits for Long Beach were a solo home run by catcher Bren Wilkinson to take a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning and a single by Robert Voss in the fifth.

As it had all tournament, Taipei County capitalized on mistakes and in the top of the fifth, the offense struck for three runs. Huang, Bo-Rui led off the inning with a double and then Huang, Hung-Chieh reached on an error on what was a planned sacrifice bunt. With runners on the corners, Tien, Tzu-Chieh singled up the middle. Huang, Bo-Rui scored on the play and Huang, Hung-Chieh moved around to third. Chen, Chiu-Teng mashed a double into deep right field scoring both runners on base to put Taipei County ahead 3-1, which proved to be the final score.

Myles Patton gave it his all for Long Beach, allowing three runs (two earned), seven hits, two walks and struck out seven in four innings.

Long Beach finishes the 2018 DICK'S Sporting Goods Pony League World Series with a record of 3-1 with wins against East Zone Champion Bronx, New York 8-0, Mexico Zone Champion Tijuana, Baja California 8-2 and South Zone Champion Brownsville, Texas 6-5. The lone loss came last night.

Taipei County completes the sweep, defeating North Zone Champion Bay County, Michigan 12-1, Host Area Champion Youngstown, OH 4-0, Caribbean Zone Champion Yaguate, Dominican Republic 5-3 and last night against Long Beach.

Box Score
Archived Full-Game Webcast

Champion: Taipei County, Chinese Taipei


Finalist: Long Beach, California


Wilson Sports Batting Champion: Rikendy Martinez (San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic) 12-for-17 (.706 BA), double, triple, two homeruns, 12 RBI, nine runs scored


Easton ERA Award Winner: Wu, Sin-Jie (Taipei County, Chinese Taipei) 10 IP, (0.00 ERA), three hits allowed, 18 Ks, no walks -- First-ever complete perfect game tossed in PLWS history

Colt World Series 2018



Although the field of teams at the first-ever Colt World Series held in Marion, Illinois at Rent One Park included the defending champions (The Netherlands) and the defending Pony World Series champions (Covina, California), four others made their mark in this year's tournament. First-year competitor Southern Illinois ignited the hometown crowd in their two close-call victories, while South Zone Champion Brownsville, Texas won three games, including a loser's bracket elimination game over the Netherlands. It was Asia-Pacific Zone Champion Seoul, Korea and Caribbean Zone Champion Levittown, Puerto Rico who rose to the top. Seoul's pitching and opportunistic base running propelled the team forward in its side of the bracket, while no team could slow down the offensive firepower of the Puerto Ricans. In a thrilling championship game that came down to the final out, Levittown shined when the stage was at its brightest.

Dates: Aug. 3-8
Location: Marion, Illinois

Tournament Stats

Colt World Series Championship Game Recap: Levittown, Puerto Rico 5  Seoul, Korea 4

Highlights



The first-ever Colt World Series championship game at Rent One Park in Marion, Illinois was one for the ages between two undefeated juggernauts. After it was all said and done, Caribbean Zone Champion Levittown, Puerto Rico was able to hold off a late-game rally by Asia-Pacific Zone Champion Seoul, Korea to win the Colt World Series title.

Levittown won its second Colt World Series title in history and the seventh overall for the nation of Puerto Rico, the most Colt World Series titles of any international country.

Puerto Rico starting pitcher Alejandro Valiente was solid on the mound through the game’s first two innings. Despite allowing two hits and four walks, Valiente struck out three, and his defense made big plays to keep Seoul off the scoreboard.

In the bottom of the second, Valiente induced a double play with the bases loaded. In the bottom of the third with Song, Ho-Jung on first base, Kwon, Hyeok-Gyung hit a double, but the Levittown defense was able to nail Song at the plate trying to score.

Levittown struck first in the top of the second thanks to an RBI single by Dylan Luna and an RBI walk by Luis Hernandez (2-0). The team added to its lead in the top of the fifth, when Sabin Ceballos scored Hernandez and Gabriel Medina on a two-RBI bloop single (4-0).

The wheels started to come off for Valiente in the bottom of the fifth, as he neared his pitch count limit. He walked the first two batters he faced in the inning, before Kim, Jung-Sang hit into a fielder’s choice that also included an error on the play. The error allowed Choi, Hyun-Kyu to score. Another Levittown error resulted in another Seoul run scored, as the Asia-Pacific Zone Champions cut the game’s deficit in half.

Luna then relieved Valiante, but, on the third pitch he threw, Luna threw it wildly, allowing Kim to score from third (4-3). Puerto Rico countered with a run of its own, when it capitalized on a Korea error. The insurance run proved to be pivotal down the stretch.

In the bottom of the sixth, Luna loaded the bases with one out, before the Puerto Rico coaches turned to Joskar Feliciano. With Sang at-bat, a passed ball allowed Lee, Woong Chan to score from third (5-4). After a pop out, a Kang, Min-Gu single once again loaded the bases, but Feliciano induced another ground ball for an out to keep his team’s lead.

Korea had one last chance in the bottom of the seventh. The offense once again loaded the bases, but a two-out dropped third strikeout 2-3 put out ended the rally and the game.

Five uncharacteristic errors plagued Seoul in the contest, but going 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position proved to be most costly.

Hernandez paced Levittown with two hits, while Ceballos led the team with two RBI. Kwon led Seoul with two hits.

Valiente recorded the win for Puerto Rico, while Feliciano picked up the save, going 1.2 innings strong, allowing no runs on two hits and two walks, while striking out two.

Box Score

Champion: Levittown, Puerto Rico


Finalist: Seoul, Korea


Wilson Sports Batting Champion: Darryl Collins (The Netherlands) 5-for-11 (.455 BA), a triple, a double, three RBI and six runs scored


Easton ERA Award Winner: Rene Sanchez (Brownsville, Texas) 5.2 IP (0.00 ERA), two hits allowed, three walks and six strikeouts

Palomino World Series 2018



Dates: Aug. 3-6
Location: Laredo, Texas

Winning its three games by a combined score of 30-1, Taoyuan County, Chinese Taipei proved that it was one of the elite teams in Palomino World Series history. The only team standing in its way was the MLB Youth Academy from Los Angeles, California, the champions of the PONY West Zone. Los Angeles had picked up two wins by way of a shutout en route to the championship game and had a cast of hurlers who could match the PONY Asia-Pacific Zone Representatives. In a defensive battle that took less than two hours to play seven innings, Taoyuan County created just enough offense to win Chinese Taipei its second Palomino World Series title.

Tournament Stats
Archived Full-Game Webcasts

Palomino World Series Championship Game Recap: Taoyuan County, Chinese Taipei 2  Los Angeles (MLB Youth Academy) California 0

Highlights



The time had finally come for the 2018 Palomino World Series Championship in Laredo, Texas at Uni-Trade Stadium. Both Taoyuan County, Chinese Taipei and Los Angeles (MLB Youth Academy), California entered the game with perfect 3-0 records. It was time for the two most dominant teams in the tournament to square off and claim the crown of Palomino World Series Champion. Coming down to the final inning, Chinese Taipei stuck to its small ball mentality and came out victorious, winning 2-0.

Coming into the game, both teams scored plenty of runs to go around, but it was the pitching that carried both teams. Chinese Taipei had opened the scoring in the first inning of its previous three games, but this time the Asia-Pacific Zone Representatives went down in order. Los Angeles got the first hit in the bottom of the second, but left the runner on-base to end the inning. Both teams repeated this pattern until the top of the fifth, when Chinese Taipei had its first chance to get on the board. After two singles by Lin, Chia-Wei and Yen, Kuo-Chin, both runners advanced a base on a wild pitch.

Chiang, Kun-Yu grounded into a fielder’s choice that axed Lin as he tried to go home. As Lin was in a rundown, Yen and Chiang both advanced to third and second, respectively. However, with two outs, Ho, Yi-Lung grounded out to end the top of the fifth.

Both teams went down in order until the top of the seventh, when the Chinese Taipei offense arose to the occasion. Wang, Po-Hsuan led off the inning with a double. Kuo, Wen-Yi grounded out to second but was able to move Wang to third. Lin drew a walk and with runners on the corners and one out, Yen delivered what would be the game-winning play. Yen laid a bunt down the third base line. As the ball rolled up the line, Wang broke for home and scored while Yen was thrown out at first.

While all this was happening, Lin ran on the pitch and ended up at third by the time the play was over. Chiang, in the very next at-bat, hit a single up the middle to score Lin and give Chinese Taipei the 2-0 lead.

In the bottom of the seventh, Los Angeles’ James Espalin reached on an error to lead off the inning. Despite committing its second error of the whole tournament, Chinese Taipei answered by turning a 6-4-3 double play. Down to its final out, Los Angeles sent up pinch hitter, George Eaves to the plate. Chinese Taipei starting pitcher, Lin, Reui-Yang Gu, preserved his two-hit shutout by getting Eaves to pop up to second base and record the win 2-0.

Lin, Reui-Yang was the victorious pitcher, going all seven innings, only allowing two hits and striking out seven batters. Lin, Chia-Wei led the team in batting as he went a perfect, 2-for-2 from the plate, while scoring once and drawing a walk.

Taoyuan County won its second Palomino World Series title overall and first since 2012.

Box Score
Archived Full-Game Webcast

Champion: Taoyuan County, Chinese Taipei


Finalist: Los Angeles (MLB Urban Youth Academy), California


Wilson Sports Batting Champion: Yen, Kuo-Chin (Taoyuan County, Chinese Taipei) (.700 BA (7-10, 13 PA), four RBI, three runs scored)


Easton ERA Award Winner:
Chiang, Kuo-Chien (Taoyuan County, Chinese Taipei) 4 IP, (0.00 ERA), two wins, one hit allowed, no walks, four Ks)

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