Taichung Municipal Chung Shan Junior High School baseball team returned to Taiwan Wednesday after notching up the team’s third title and the nation’s eighth championship at the Junior League Baseball (JLB) World Series in Michigan on Sunday.

The Chung Shan Junior Little League arrived at Taoyuan International Airport at 6:19 p.m. and received a warm welcome home from Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chang Liao Wan-chien (????), who is honorary chair of Taichung City Baseball Association (TCBA).

The team won the championship by defeating Oil Belt Little League from Texas 7-1. It last won the title in 2015.

The Chung Shan Junior League is responsible for three of the 11 championships the nation has won at the series, making them a source of pride in Taichung and across Taiwan, Chang Liao said.

The team’s coach, Lan Wen-chuan (???), thanked the Sports Administration, Taichung City Government and the TCBA for the support they gave the school and the team, which allowed them to focus solely on practicing.

The main factor behind the team winning the championship was its ability to stay focused and composed throughout the series, which enabled them to play their best, he said.

The Junior League Baseball World Series was launched in 1981, but it was not until 2010 that Taiwan participated for the first time.

From 2013 to 2018, Taiwan won six straight championships in the series, which was resumed this year following a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel