Taipei: Taiwan's Pony League team in the under-18 Palomino division narrowly missed capturing the Pony Palomino World Series title, falling 7-1 to host Laredo in the championship game. The defeat came after an impressive undefeated run in the tournament, which concluded on Monday.According to Focus Taiwan, the team, composed of 19 high school players from Taoyuan, earned their spot in the series by winning the Wang Chen-chih Cup, an event honoring the Chinese name of Japanese baseball legend Sadaharu Oh. The tournament took place in Laredo, Texas, from July 31 to August 4. Taiwan began its campaign with a 4-3 victory over Puerto Rico and followed it with an 11-4 win against Harlingen.On Sunday, Taiwan secured its place in the championship game with a 2-0 victory over Mexico, only to face a setback against Laredo in the final. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston later conveyed congratulatory messages from President Lai Ching-te and Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim to the team online after the aw ard ceremony.Yvonne Hsiao, director-general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston, commended the players for their determination, noting that they "not only showcased the strength of Taiwanese baseball to the world but also helped build a strong bridge of friendship through sports exchanges between Taiwan and the United States."Last year, Taiwan claimed the Pony Palomino World Series title with representation from New Taipei's Ku Pao Home Economics and Commercial High School. The Wang Chen-chih Cup's namesake, Sadaharu Oh, was born in Tokyo to a Chinese father and Japanese mother, retaining Republic of China (Taiwan) citizenship as registered by his father.