California Little Leaguers Face Taiwan

Although it has been accomplished only twice before, Coach Troy Ward believes this year’s U.S. team has the power to beat Taiwan in the Little League World Series championship game.

Ward’s San Ramon Valley, Calif., team will play Tai Chung, Taiwan, today for the 1991 title. The teams are more evenly matched than U.S. and Taiwan teams that have met for previous titles.

“We’re a pretty good hitting team, but we have a tendency to have peaks and valleys,” Ward said. “(Thursday) was the best hitting we’ve had in a while. If we play as well as we are capable of playing, I think we can have a pretty good showing.”

The Californians are hitting .396, with five home runs, in the Series. Taiwan is batting .464 in the Series, with six home runs. Both teams had four home runs in Thursday’s semifinals.

“They’re good. They’re a hitting machine. They’re as good as they come,” Ward said.

Only two American teams have been able to beat Taiwan in a Little League World Series, Kirkland, Wash., in 1982 and Trumbull, Conn., in 1989. In 18 tournament appearances since 1969, the only other Taiwan loss was to Nicaragua, 3-2, in the first round of the 1970 tournament.

Since its first game here, Taiwan is 46-3.