Taiwan Wins 15th Little League Title

Taiwan won its 15th Little League World Series championship Saturday, using Pan Chih-Chang’s 14 strikeouts and Lin Wei-Chu’s grand slam to rout San Ramon Valley, Calif., 11-0.

San Ramon’s Kevin Graham stifled Taiwan with 78 m.p.h. fastballs in the first two innings, but Fang Sheng’s 240-foot home run in the third triggered the onslaught.

Taiwan chased Graham in the fifth, and Lin hit his grand slam off Jason Barringer for an 11-0 lead, capping an eight-run inning.

Taiwan is 47-3, including 15-2 in championship games, since its first appearance in the tournament in 1969 and won its second title in a row. Last year, Taiwan beat Shippensburg, Pa., 9-0.

A California team finished as runner-up for the 12th time in 15 title game appearances, the most second-place finishes by any state.