U-18 Baseball Team Defeats Taiwan 2-0... Ha Hyun-seung Pitches 12 Strikeouts in Shutout

The South Korean national under-18 baseball team has greenlit its pursuit of regaining the Asian championship for the first time in eight years by defeating its toughest rival, Taiwan, at the U-18 Asian Baseball Championship.

Led by manager Jung Yoon-jin of Duksu High School, the national team secured a 2-0 victory over Taiwan in their Group B opener at Tianmu Baseball Stadium in Taipei, Taiwan, on the 7th, propelled by the stellar pitching of left-handed starting pitcher Ha Hyun-seung of Busan High School.

Having clinched the opening match against Taiwan, which functioned practically as a final, South Korea has positioned itself advantageously for advancement to the Super Round.

South Korea will play its second group stage match against Singapore tomorrow.

Ha Hyun-seung, who is projected to be selected first overall in the professional baseball rookie draft scheduled for September 21, showcased a brilliant performance by throwing fastballs hovering around 150 km/h alongside sharp breaking pitches, allowing just two hits and racking up a staggering 12 strikeouts while pitching 5 and 2/3 scoreless innings.

Trailing Taiwan without a hit, South Korea opened the floodgates in the top of the 6th inning when leadoff hitter Nam Hyun-woo of Seoul Convention High School got on base with the team's first hit dropping inside the right-field line.

With one out and a runner on second following Park Bo-seung of Gyeongnam High School's sacrifice bunt, South Korea seized a prime opportunity with one out and runners on second and third when Cho Hee-sung of Yushin High School hit a double that dropped in front of the center fielder.

Nam Hyun-woo deftly dashed home on Eom Jun-sang of Duksu High School's groundout to the shortstop, breaking the scoreless tie.

In the ensuing play with one out and runners on first and third, Lee Ho-min of Gyeongnam High School hit a sacrifice fly to right field, bringing third base runner Cho Hee-sung home.

Eom Jun-sang, who started the game as the shortstop, took over the mound after Ha Hyun-seung and pitched 1 and 1/3 scoreless innings with one hit and two strikeouts, combining for a shutout victory.

(Photo courtesy of Korea Baseball Softball Association, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.