Players from Xiyuan take a
break from practice for a
picture with their teachers.

An impressive pitching crew will
be the team's secret weapon.

Taichung Mayor Jason Hu
presents the team with a flag.

Xiyuan High School Baseball Team gets a chance to make history

Words and photos by Taichung City Government
Translated by Sho Huang

In exciting news for the city, Taichung's Xiyuan High School baseball team is attending two international tournaments this summer. The junior varsity team, made up of 13 and 14 year-olds, will join the U.S.A. Pony League Asian Youth Baseball Game on July 19 in Basso, Korea. The varsity team, whose players range from 15 to 16 years old, will attend the 5th Asian Youth Baseball Game, held from August 25 to 30 in Sizhioka (Silent Hill), Japan.

Teams from Japan, Taiwan, Korean, Russia and the Philippines are joining the Asian Youth Baseball Game. These quality teams will create some stiff competition for the Taiwan squad, which is hoping that its top-notch pitching will be the trump card in the tournament.
The Xiyuan team, led by Coach Jiang Zhong-hao, is made up of 15 great players, five who joined the U.S.A. Pony League Asian Youth Game last year and two who joined the Williamsport Little League World Series team.

Though Xiyuan started its baseball team less than 10 years ago, its great performance has created a lot of excitement in sports circles. One reason for their success is the support of Taichung City Councilor Zhang Liao Wan-jian, who has done everything he can to help raise funds for the team. If someone else is busy making sure they can afford equipment and uniforms, the players and coaches can concentrate entirely on training.

The team has also received a lot of support from former school principal Zhung Ing-san, under whose guidance the team started, as well as Liou Jing-zhong, the current principal. The experienced, outstanding coaching staff also plays an essential role, fulfilling the Chinese proverb, "Great teachers, great students".

The lowest point of the Chinese Professional Baseball League came in 1999. Corporate scandals and players taking bribes to throw games disgusted the fan base and nearly made the sport extinct. Founded in this climate, the Xiyuan baseball team has been taught high moral standards. The coaches have been great role models for the players and the team has been highly praised for their good manners and behavior.

In the beginning, the team had to beg players to join. Now, the tide has turned--the players beg the team to take them in! Scouts from America and Japan have been watching them closely as well, perhaps to find the next Wang Chien-ming. Ten years later, we're happy to see that they have grown strong and are going to represent Taiwan at their fifth international tourney. Everyone at the government wishes them the best and hopes they return in triumph!