Baseball: New Taipei Claims Third Straight Hua Nan Financial Holdings Cup, Earns U15 World Cup Spot

New Taipei City's youth baseball team has achieved a remarkable three-peat, clinching the Hua Nan Financial Holdings Cup National Youth Baseball Championship. The team secured their third consecutive title by defeating Tainan City 6-5 in a hard-fought final. This victory not only adds to the city's sporting accolades but also grants them the crucial responsibility of organizing and training the Chinese Taipei squad for the upcoming 2026 U15 Baseball World Cup.

Vice Mayor Liu He-ran praised the team's perseverance, noting the high level of competition in the Hua Nan Financial Holdings Cup, considered one of Taiwan's premier youth baseball events. He highlighted the team's unwavering fighting spirit, especially during the championship game against a formidable Tainan City side. Liu expressed confidence that the players will carry this momentum and teamwork onto the international stage at the U15 World Cup.

The championship-winning team was primarily formed and trained by Erzhong Junior High School, incorporating talented players from Xinpu, Jianshan, and Fuying Junior High Schools. Overcoming challenges from 19 county and city teams, New Taipei demonstrated consistent performance throughout the tournament, which ran from May 29 to June 8.

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The three consecutive championships are far more difficult than imagined. Every team regards the defending champion as a target to challenge, but the players always remained focused and confident, withstanding pressure at critical moments and performing steadily to achieve the goal of three consecutive championships.

Head coach Chiu Yao-yu, who received the tournament's coaching award, emphasized the difficulty of maintaining a winning streak. He acknowledged that every opponent targets the defending champions, but credited his players' focus, confidence, and ability to perform under pressure for their sustained success. Coach Chiu also commended the players' growth and how they channeled their team cohesion into competitive strength.

Team captain Wang Sheng-jang described the three-peat as a deeply meaningful achievement, shared with his teammates. He reflected on the journey, marked by both setbacks and challenges, but ultimately underscored the importance of self-belief and team trust, fostered by the encouragement of coaches and peers. Five players from the New Taipei team, Lin Pin-an, Wu Yu-yu, Wang Sheng-jang, Huang Cheng-hsun, and Chang Shao-yuan, have been selected for the national training squad, preparing for the U15 World Cup in Merida, Mexico, from September 25 to October 2.

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Being able to complete the Hua Nan Financial Holdings Cup three-peat goal with my teammates is of extraordinary significance to me. There were setbacks and challenges along the way, but with the encouragement of coaches, teachers, and teammates, I learned to believe in myself and the team. I am very happy to have achieved this glorious record.