There was a roar of celebration in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on Sunday, August 24, 2025, as Taiwan’s Dong Yuan Elementary School team claimed a commanding 7-0 victory over Las Vegas, Nevada, to secure the Little League World Series championship. For fans of Taiwanese baseball, this moment was nearly three decades in the making—their first title since 1996, breaking a 29-year drought and reigniting memories of their storied past.
From the opening pitch, the energy was palpable. Ace pitcher Lin Chin-Tse, a 5-foot-8 right-hander from Taipei, took the mound with nerves but quickly settled into a groove that would leave the Nevada batters grasping at air. Lin retired the first 13 batters he faced, carrying a perfect game into the fifth inning and dazzling the crowd with fastballs that reached over 80 mph—speeds that, given the shorter Little League mound, looked even more intimidating to the young hitters. "In the first inning I was nervous, but after that it was smooth," Lin admitted after the game.
Lin's dominance wasn’t just limited to the mound. In the bottom of the fifth inning, with the bases loaded and the tension mounting, Lin delivered a bases-clearing triple, driving in three runs and effectively putting the game out of reach for Nevada. Over five innings, Lin threw 58 pitches—45 of them strikes—allowing just one hit, no walks, and striking out four. His efforts were supported by a defense that played with poise and confidence, turning a key double play in the fifth after Nevada's Garrett Gallegos broke up the perfect game with a single.
Manager Lai Min-Nan, who has spent 30 years teaching baseball to Taiwan’s youth, was overcome with emotion after the win. He reflected on his previous trip to Williamsport in 2015, when his Dong Yuan team was eliminated after just four games. "It has been a very long time ... and we finally made it," Lai said, his voice cracking as he wiped away tears. He spoke of discovering this group of talented players two years ago and believing in their potential from the start. "There is a saying in Taiwan that it takes 10 years to sharpen a sword," Lai remarked, capturing the sense of patience and perseverance that defined their journey.
The championship game was a showcase of Taiwan’s all-around excellence. Offensively, the team capitalized on Nevada’s mistakes, scoring early runs thanks to wild pitches and fielding errors. In the second inning, Jian Zih-De worked a walk and later scored on a wild pitch, while Tsai Yu-Ge’s speed forced a throwing error that brought home Chen Shi-Rong. By the end of the third, Taiwan had established a 2-0 lead, setting the stage for their explosive fifth inning.
Nevada, representing the Mountain Region and making its first-ever appearance in the championship game, struggled to match Taiwan’s intensity. Their starter, Luke D’Ambrosio, showed flashes of brilliance with a wicked curveball but was hampered by control issues—walking four and allowing five hits over four innings, though only two of the runs were earned. "We competed," said Las Vegas manager TJ Fechser. "We kept it very close until the fifth. With a guy like that (Chin-Tse), we competed well." Fechser praised his team’s resilience, noting that pitching restrictions had left their top arms unavailable for the finale. "I’m proud of the guys. They should be proud of themselves." For Nevada, just reaching this stage was a historic achievement.
On the defensive side, Taiwan was nearly flawless. Catcher Tsai Yu-Gee revealed that no one else wanted to catch Lin’s blazing fastballs, which reached up to 87 mph, a testament to the young pitcher’s power and intimidation factor. After Lin’s five-inning masterpiece, reliever Chen Qi-Sheng was called upon to close out the sixth and final frame. Despite allowing two singles, Chen worked through the pressure, aided by another double play, to seal the shutout and spark a wild celebration on the field. The final out—a high fly ball to left field—triggered a rush of players and coaches embracing in the infield, their years of hard work culminating in this unforgettable moment.
This championship marks Taiwan’s 18th Little League World Series title, the most of any country outside the United States. Their legacy includes a remarkable run of five consecutive championships from 1977 to 1981, and Sunday’s victory reestablishes their reputation as a global powerhouse in youth baseball. It’s worth noting that in international competition, the team is officially recorded as "Chinese Taipei" due to naming conventions established by the International Olympic Committee and followed by Little League. However, throughout the post-game celebrations and press conferences, the players and coaches proudly referred to themselves as representing Taiwan. As interpreter Philip Chang explained, "We are not allowed to [use Taiwan]," but the pride in their national identity was unmistakable.
The road to the championship was anything but easy. Taiwan advanced to the final by edging Aruba 1-0 in a tense international championship on Saturday, with Liu Wei-Hung tossing 5.1 scoreless innings and Chen Qi-Sheng closing the door in relief. In the title game, their pitching staff continued its dominance—Taiwan shut out four of its five opponents in Williamsport, with the only runs allowed coming in a 7-3 win over Aruba earlier in the tournament. Last year, Taiwan finished as runner-up, falling just short of the crown. This time, they left no doubt, outscoring their opponents and displaying a level of discipline and skill that has become their trademark.
For the players, coaches, and fans back home, this triumph is more than just a championship—it’s a validation of years of commitment to the sport and a reminder of Taiwan’s rich baseball tradition. The victory also serves as inspiration for the next generation of young athletes dreaming of making their mark on the world stage. As Lin Chin-Tse and his teammates hoisted the championship banner, the message was clear: Taiwan is back on top of the Little League world.
As the sun set over Williamsport and the celebrations continued, Taiwan’s 7-0 win over Nevada will be remembered as a masterclass in pitching, teamwork, and perseverance—a fitting end to a tournament that brought together the best in youth baseball from around the globe. With their drought now over, Taiwan’s young stars have written a new chapter in their nation’s baseball history, and the echoes of their victory will surely be felt for years to come.
