After falling a game short of the PLWS title in 2014, Taoyuan County, Chinese Taipei went undefeated and claimed victory in 2015. In addition to 10-run-ruling three of their four opponents, the Asia-Pacific Zone Champions were particularly stout on the mound all tournament long. Chinese Taipei only surrendered three runs in four games, respectively, en route to the nation's seventh PLWS crown.
2015 DICK'S Sporting Goods PONY League World Series iScore Live Stats Central
* All stories courtesy of WJPA.com
Championship Game Chinese Taipei 12 VS. San Bernadino, CA 1
Behind solid pitching by starting pitcher Lee, Cheng Chen and two big innings, in which the team batted through the order, Taoyuan County, Chinese Taipei won the DICK'S Sporting Goods PONY League World Series in thrilling fashion 12-1 over San Bernardino, California, in a five-inning, 10-run rule game. Chinese Taipei's won its seventh championship in PONY League World Series history, tying the nation of Puerto Rico for second all-time.
In the top of the first inning with two outs, Chinese Taipei's offense exploded for five runs thanks to its three through nine hitters all reaching base safely. San Bernardino countered with a run in the bottom of the third on a Damien Sanchez RBI single.
Chinese Taipei's Ho, Yi Lung added a run in the top of the fourth, thanks to a solo home run, and the Asia-Pacific Zone Champions broke the game open in the top of fifth by scoring six runs, forcing San Bernardino to score two to avoid a 10-run rule loss. Lee shut the Californians down in order to claim victory 12-1.
Lee pitched a solid five innings, allowing one run on three hits, while striking out nine. Ho lead the team at the plate, going four-for-four with a home run, double and two singles. Five players from Chinese Taipei had a multi-hit game. Devyn Lopez took the loss for San Bernardino. In two-thirds innings pitched, he allowed five earned runs on five hits and a walk.
Lin, Chun En took home the Wilson Batting Championship as the tournament's leading hitter with a .750 batting average (nine-for-12). Lee was awarded with the Easton Sports ERA Award as the tournament's leading pitcher with a 1.75 ERA (three runs earned in 12 innings pitched).
After finishing as the finalists at last year's PONY League World Series, Taoyuan County won the championship for the first time since 2009 and the second for the Asia-Pacific Zone in the last three years.
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Game #16 Division Finals San Bernadino, CA 10 VS. Hagerstown, MD 5
Three home runs, two in the bottom of the first inning, helped San Bernardino, CA overcome an early deficit and roll to a 10-5 victory over Hagerstown, MD, and earn a trip to the World Series championship game against Chinese Taipei.
With the East Zone squad up, 2-0, Eddie Aldama homered to open the bottom of the first. Two batters later, Damien Sanchez blasted a two-run shot putting the West Zone team in front to stay.
Winning pitcher Tyler Bardowell helped his own cause with a two-run double in the second. After an error and a wild pitch helped cash in two runs in the SB third, Sanchez lofted a sacrifice fly to up the lead to 8-2. Gilbert Aguilar singled home a run in the fourth and Devyn Lopez homered in the sixth pushing San Bernardino to the championship game.
Adam Mathias had an RBI single to put Hagerstown up 2-0 in the first. Seamus Murray's sacrifice fly in the forth pulled the Maryland squad back to within 8-4. Chase McCoy's fly ball out cashed in the final run in the seventh. Bardowell was charged with two runs and five hits. Spencer McNamee was the starter and loser, unable to get an out through five batters.
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Game #15 Division Finals Chinese Taipei 10 VS. Mayaguez, PR 0
Hsu, Jo Hsi tossed a five-inning no-hitter, leading Chinese Taipei to a 10-0 win over Mayaguez, PR, and a berth in Wednesday night's World Series championship game. Hsu walked one and struck out nine in pitching the 20th no-hit game in the history of the PONY League World Series.
The Asia-Pacific Zone champions got all the runs needed in the first inning, taking advantage of two errors and a bases loaded groundout to lead 3-0. Chinese Taipei sent 12 men to the plate and scored seven runs in the third. Three of those runs came on Chou, Shih Che's home run that nearly left the complex at Lew Hays Field well beyond the right field fence.
Mayaguez committed three errors in the inning, aiding the CT cause. Chinese Taipei will play for the PONY League World Series championship for the second straight year and the fourth time since winning the 2009 title.
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Game #14 Hagerstown, MD 4 VS. Mazatlan, MX 2
Chase McCoy's two-run single in the fourth broke a 1-1 tie and Brock Penn homered in the seventh for an insurance run as Hagerstown, MD eliminated Mazatlán, MX, 4-2, Tuesday afternoon.
Trailing 1-0 after three, Scott Neal reached on a throwing error. Adam Mathias and Alex Avey each singled to load the bases. Seamus Murray lofted a sacrifice fly to left, tying the game. A pop-out and a fielding error left the door open for the East Zone champions. After fouling off several two-strike pitches, McCoy singled into shallow right field, driving in Mathias and Avey, putting Hagerstown up, 3-1.
Mazatlán had taken a 1-0 lead in the second thanks to consecutive base hits by Miguel Ojeda, Javier Montaño and Diego Jasso. In the bottom of the seventh, Jasso doubled down the left field line, chasing starter and winner Mathias. Jasso moved to third on a wild pitch by Garrett Hose, then scored on an errant throw. Hose retired the three batters he faced to end the game.
Mazatlán starter Rafael Zemudio took the loss, allowing all four run, only one earned, in six innings of work. Mathias had three hits, all singles, and McCoy had two base hits. Jasso, Ojeda and Rodrigo Garate each had two hits for Mazatlán. Mathias allowed eight hits and struck out four but did not walk a batter in his six innings of work.
Hagerstown moves to the Division Finals and will face San Bernardino for a second straight night, needing to beat the West Zone squad to force an "if necessary" game tomorrow in the double-elimination bracket.
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Game #13 Mayaguez, PR 11 VS. Bay County, MI 1
Erick Rivera smacked a grand slam to end the game as Mayaguez, PR topped Bay County, MI, 11-1, in five innings. The blast is the second grand slam of the World Series for Mayaguez and the 44th all-time. Winning pitcher Dylan Gonzalez hit a grand slam in the opening game of the tournament.
The Caribbean champions batted around in the second inning, scoring five times to set the stage for the walk-off three innings later. Three Bay County errors, an RBI double by Gabriel Rivera and back-to-back run-scoring singles from Jafnell Rivera and Kendrick Crespo put Mayaguez in front 7-0. But the game may have gotten away from the North Zone winners in the first. A two-out error allowed Gabriel Rivera to reach base. Losing pitcher Evan Schlatter came set and Rivera broke for second. Schlatter stepped off, threw to second easily in time and the inning appeared over. But a balk was called on Schlatter, sending Bay County back to the field.
A hit-batter and a base hit loaded the bases. Crespo singled to drive in a pair, giving Mayaguez a lead it would never surrender. Gonzalez improved to 2-0, allowing just two hits over three innings while striking out five. Kenneth Folch pitched the final two innings. Schlatter was charged with seven runs, four earned, in 1.1 innings of work. Kennen Irizarry had two more hits, including a double. He now has six in the World Series.
Mayaguez plays Chinese Taipei in Tuesday night's Division Finals, needing to beat the Asia-Pacific champions twice to make the World Series championship game.
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Game #12 San Bernadino, CA 2 VS. Hagerstown, MD 0
San Bernardino, CA scored one run in the first, another in the fourth and three SB pitchers combined for the shutout as the West Zone champions beat Hagerstown, MD, 2-0, to move to the Division Finals Tuesday night.
Eddie Aldama singled to open the bottom of the first. One out later, Damien Sanchez doubled and Aldama ran the coach's stop sign, scoring the game's first run. Tyler Bardowell doubled to start the San Berdoo fourth and scored when a two-out grounder was mishandled.
Devyn Lopez got the win, working the first three innings, allowing two hits and two walks. Bryce Hayes held Hagerstown to two hits over the next three innings. Abel Madueño came on for the seventh for the save.
The East Zone champions scratched out three straight one-out singles before Madueño picked up a strikeout and a foul out to end the game. Garret Hose took the loss, charged with one run on three hits over the first three innings. Hagerstown faces Mazatlán, MX in Tuesday's elimination round (12:30 pm) with the winner playing San Bernardino in the Division Finals Tuesday evening (8:00 pm), needing to win twice to make the World Series championship game.
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Game #11 Chinese Taipei 10 VS. Bay County, MI 0
A six-run third inning powered Chinese Taipei to a 10-0, five-inning win over Bay County, MI, and a spot in Tuesday's Division Finals.
Winning pitcher Ho, Yi Lung singled home two runs. Tu, Wei Hung-the World Series Home Run Derby winner, blasted a two-run shot to left-centerfield, and Lin, Chun En delivered a two-run double to build the lead to 6-0.
Bay County got two hits in the third, two more in the fourth, but could not score. The Asia-Pacific champions added four more runs in the fifth, thanks to a RBI single by Hsu, Jo Hsi, a two-run base hit by Lin, and Lan, Huai Chien's sacrifice fly. Chou, Shih Che pitched a clean fifth inning to end the game. Ho allowed four hit while striking out seven. Starter Nick Dardas took the loss, charged with the first six runs and seven hits over the opening three innings.
Bay County faces Mayaguez, PR in Tuesday morning's elimination round (10:00 am). The winner plays Chinese Taipei in Division Finals (5:30 pm) and will need to beat the A-P champion twice to reach the World Series final.
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Game #10 Mazatlan, MX 10 VS. Vienna, Austria 0
Seven different players drove in runs as Mazatlán, MX eliminated Vienna, Austria, 10-0, Monday.
The Mexico champions scored four runs in the third and fifth innings to control the game. Javier Montaño limited Vienna to just two hits but needed double-plays to end the fourth and fifth innings, keeping the European champions off the board. RBI grounders by Hector Enciso and Rodrigo Garate opened the scoring in the third for Mazatlán. Jose Tirado singled home another run, then scored off two Vienna errors.
Mario Sarabia doubled in Angel Lizarraga in the fourth to make it 5-0. Tirado was hit by a pitch to start the fifth and moved to third on Miguel Ojeda's double. Three straight singles knocked in three runs and a sacrifice fly made it 9-0 after five. Garate doubled in the sixth and scored the game-ending run on Tirado's base hit.
Sarabia, Montaño and Lizarraga each had two hits. Montaño got the five-inning shutout, striking out six and walking two. Mazatlán next faces the loser of the Hagerstown, MD / San Bernardino, CA game Wednesday (12:30 pm).
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Game #9 Mayaguez, PR 14 VS. Johnstown, PA 2
Mayaguez, PR erupted for 14 runs over the final two innings to eliminate Host Area champion, Johnstown, PA, 14-2, in five innings.
Jafnell Rivera hit a three-run home run to put the winners in front to stay in the third. Two batters later, Gabriel Rivera stroked a two-run shot. Johnstown had taken a 2-0 lead in the top of the third on Grant Norris' two-run home run but the Host Area squad stranded a pair of runners.
Mayaguez chased starter and loser Troy Emert with two hits and a walk to open the fourth, then sent 10 more batters to the plate, scoring nine times. Kendrick Crespo delivered a three-run double, then scored on Rivera's sacrifice fly. Kennen Irizarry drilled a three-run home run to put the 10-run rule into effect.
Erick Rivera got the win, allowing just two runs, three hits over five innings while striking out a dozen. Mayaguez will play the Chinese Taipei / Bay County, MI loser Tuesday (10 am).
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Game #8 Mazatlan, MX 12 VS. Washington, PA 2
Mazatlan, MX broke open a tight game with a six-run fourth inning on the way to a 12-2 win over Washington, PA, eliminating the Hosts from the World Series.
The winners scored four unearned runs in the first to take the lead. Clarence Pomykala hit into a force play to drive in a Washington run in the third, his second RBI of the game. Rodrigo Garate's two-run home run opened the scoring in the Mexico champions' big inning. Mario Sarabia delivered a two run single, chasing starter/loser Logan Hummell. Mazatlan ended the game with two more runs in the fifth.
Jose Tirado got the win for Mazatlan, allowing just one earned run and three hits. Dan Boardley won the John Voytek Memorial Award as Washington's leading hitter in the World Series, going 3-for-5 (.600).
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Game #7 Johnstown, PA 6 VS. Houston, TX 5
Troy Emert and Jake Shope hit two-run home runs as Johnstown, PA built a 6-0 lead, then held off a late rally, eliminating NASA-Houston, TX, 6-5.
Emert's blast came with two out in the third, putting the Host Area champions up 2-0. A walk and a double to open the sixth chased NASA starter and loser Keagan Vance. Cory Owens greeted Daniel Carmona with a two-run single. Pinch-hitter Shope crushed a 1-0 pitch over the left-centerfield fence giving Johnstown a 6-run margin. The South Zone champions scored an unearned run in the sixth, the final inning for Johnstown starter and winner Tyler Mulhollen. Tyler Krause retired the first batter in the seventh, then hit two, walked one and allowed to singles as NASA brought the potential tying run to the plate. Troy Emert came on to pitch, getting a sacrifice fly to left and an infield grounder to save the Johnstown win.
The Host Area squad will take on Mayaguez, PR Monday (10:00 am) in an elimination game. Mulhollen allowed one unearned run and two hits over six innings while striking out eight.
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Game #6 San Bernadino, CA 19 VS. Vienna, Austria 0
San Bernardino batted around in the second and third innings as the West Zone champions downed Vienna, Austria, 19-0, in five innings.
Joe Manialung and Abel Madueno, Jr. both doubled in teammates in the seven-run second. Tyler Bardowell stroked a two-run home run in the third. Noah Parra hit a three-run shot four batters later. Parra, Madueno and Eddie Aldama each had three hits, part of a 21-hit game for San Bernardino. Matt Bardowell, the first of five SB pitchers, was credited with the win. The West Zone champions will take on Hagerstown, MD in a winners' bracket game Monday (8:00 pm).
Vienna threatened to score in the second and fourth but double-plays ended both frames. Jonathan Fleischmann and Georg Stemmer had two hits apiece. Starter Nicholas Schadler took the loss. The European champion will play the Mazatlan, MX / Washington, PA winner in a Monday elimination game (12:30 pm).
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Game #5 Chinese Taipei 6 VS. Mayaguez, PR 2
Lee, Cheng Chen scattered six hits and struck out nine as Chinese Taipei knocked off Mayaguez, PR, 6-2, Saturday evening.
Ho, Yi Lung stroked a two-run home run in the bottom of the first, putting the Asia-Pacific champions in front to stay. An error and Wu, Chih Lung's squeeze bunt added two runs in the fourth. Erick Rivera singled home Odrick Pitre, pulling Mayaguez to within a pair but Chinese Taipei used two hits, two walks and a hit-batter to set the final score.
Starter Kenneth Folch took the loss as Mayaguez drops to Monday's elimination game (10:00 am ) against the NASA-Houston, TX/ Johnstown, PA winner. Chinese Taipei moves to the Winners' Bracket final Monday (5:30 pm) against Bay Co., MI. Lun, Chun En had two hits for the winners.
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Game #4 Vienna, Austria 12 VS. Washington, PA 9
Vienna, Austria sent 10 men to the plate in the second inning, scoring six times, on the way to a 12-9 opening-round win over Washington, PA, the host squad.
The European champions scored twice in the first frame, thanks to a Henry Fisher RBI single and a couple wild pitches by starter and loser A.D. Nelson. Then, after one out in the second, the Austrians put together three straight singles. One out later, back-to-back walks and a throwing error made it 7-0. Jonathan Fleishmann's base hit drove in another run, chasing Nelson. Washington batted around in the top of the third and scored five runs, two on a double by Colten Fonner, pulling Washington to within 8-5. The teams traded runs the rest of the way.
Vienna moves to Sunday's second round game vs. San Bernardino, CA (12:00 noon). Washington will face Mazatlan, MX in a Sunday elimination game (5:00 pm). Fisher had three hits in the game, including an RBI double in the third. Jakob Kainz added two hits. Tyler Pfortner got the win, working the final 4.1 innings in relief. Dan Boardley had three hits for Washington, all singles. Fonner added a single to his two-run double.
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Game #3 Hagerstown, MD 6 VS. Mazatlan, MX 5
Chase Miller beat out an attempted double play with Ben Burgan scoring the winning run as Hagerstown, MD, topped Mazatlan, MX, 6-5, Saturday afternoon. Trailing by two runs entering the final frame, Alex Avey and Adam Mathias walked against starter and loser Rodrigo Garate. Burgan hit into a force play then Chris Martin singled, scoring Avey to tie the game. Miller grounded to second for a tag play but beat the throw to first as Burgan sprinted home to win the game.
The East Zone champions took a 3-0 after four with an unearned run in the second and Miller's two-run home run in the fourth. Mazatlan, held to one hit through four frames, batted around in the fifth, scoring five runs. Three straight singles plus two fielding errors chased Miller, the Hagerstown starter. After Cameron Snyder walked one batter and hit another, Spencer McNamee allowed a sacrifice fly and two hits as the Mexico champions built a 5-3 margin. Hagerstown pulled to within one run in the bottom of the inning. Burgan singled with two out, moved to second on a balk and scored on Martin's base hit. Brock Penn pitched the final two innings for the East Zone champions and got the win.
Hagerstown advances to Monday night's Winners' Bracket game (8:00 pm). Mazatlan will play the Vienna, Austria / Washington, PA loser in Sunday's elimination round. Miller had three hits, three RBI for Hagerstown. Martin delivered three singles and drove in a pair of runs. Hector Enciso had a double and a single for Mazatlán.
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Game #2 Bay County, MI 8 VS. Johnstown, PA 3
The North Zone champion plated three runs in the first inning on the way to an 8-3 win over Johnstown, PA, Friday night. Branden Brown stroked a two-run in the fourth for the winners, giving them more than enough cushion to get the win, their fourth straight against the Host Area representative.
Tyler David singled with one out, stole second and scored on a base hit from Nick Dardas. Ben Van Sumeran tripled to left-center field, scoring Dardas, then scampered home on a wild pitch. Brodie Harbaugh hit a solo home run for Johnstown in the third, the first hit of the game off winning pitcher Adam Randall. Brown's round-tripper made it 5-1 and two unearned runs in the fifth gave Bay County a six-run advantage. Tyler Mulhollen blasted a two-run homer for the Host Area squad before Bay County took advantage of another unearned run. Johnstown loaded the bases in the seventh but could not score.
Adam Randall got the win, tossing a five-hitter while striking out eight. Adam Cecere took the loss, charged with five earned runs and eight hits.
Bay County moves to the Winners' Bracket Monday night and will face the Chinese Taipei/Mayaguez, PR winner. Johnstown will face NASA-Houston, TX in the tournament's first elimination game Sunday afternoon.
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Game #1 Mayaguez, PR 17 VS. Houston, TX 4
Mayaguez, PR exploded for 14 second-inning runs, rolling to a 17-4 win over NASA-Houston, TX in the opening game of the 2015 DICK'S Sporting Goods PONY League World Series.
The Caribbean champions blasted four home runs in the five-inning game including a Dylan Gonzalez grand slam, the 43rd in the history of the event. NASA-Houston scored all of its runs in the top of the first, two on a home run by Keagan Vance. Arjun Parikh singled home a run, putting the South Zone champions up, 4-0, before Mayaguez came to bat. Odrick Pitre's two-run homer in the bottom of the frame cut the margin in half.
Brian Soto's two-run home run in the bottom of the second tied the game. A walk and a hit-batter chased starter and loser Christopher French. Chad Allen was touched up for 10 runs without retiring a batter. Gabriel Rivera also homered for the winners.
Mayaguez faces Asia-Pacific Zone champion Chinese Taipei in a second-round game Saturday afternoon (5:30 pm). NASA-Houston drops in the elimination bracket Sunday afternoon (2:30 pm). Dylan Gonzalez got the win for Mayaguez, charged with four runs in three innings, but allowed on one base runners after the NASA-Houston first. Paul Rivera worked two perfect innings of relief.
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