South Williamsport, Pennsylvania - In a display of spectacular pitching, Taiwan's Lai Cheng-Xi led his team to victory as they defeated Venezuela 4-1 to secure a spot in the Little League World Series championship game. The Asia-Pacific representative showcased their strong pitching and strategic play, despite encountering difficulties at the plate.

Lai Cheng-Xi proved to be the driving force behind Taiwan's success, striking out an impressive 12 batters and only allowing three hits in his 5 1/3 innings on the mound. "He's the ace pitcher for the team and he shows leadership," manager Lee Cheng-Ta expressed through an interpreter. Lee commended Lai for his composure, hard work, and consistent ability to shoulder important games.

Although Taiwan struggled to find offensive momentum, they capitalized on Venezuela's wild pitches, securing their victory through tactical baserunning and well-timed walks. Taiwan's ability to make the most of their opportunities allowed them to overcome their limited hits and earn a hard-fought win.

Now Taiwan eagerly awaits the outcome of the Florida-Texas semifinal, to be played later on Saturday, to determine their opponent for the championship game on Sunday. This marks Taiwan's 32nd appearance in the prestigious Little League World Series, with their last title win dating back to 1996. Having claimed the tournament title a remarkable 17 times, more than any other international team, Taiwan demonstrates their historic dominance in the competition, including a remarkable streak of five consecutive victories from 1977 to 1981.

Under the guidance of manager Cheng-Ta, who returned to South Williamsport with an entirely new roster after a third-place finish in the 2023 international side semifinals, Taiwan has proved their resilience and determination to bring home the championship once more.

In their matchup against Venezuela, Taiwan took the lead in the top of the third inning when Yu Chia-Jai drew a walk with the bases loaded, allowing Chen Bo-Wei to score the second run of the game. Despite the tight score, it was a turning point as Lai Cheng-Xi continued to dominate on the mound.

Venezuela struggled with pitching accuracy, resulting in costly wild pitches from the start. In the first inning, a pitch from Venezuela's starter Luis Yepez allowed Chiu Wei-Che to slide safely home, giving Taiwan an early lead.

Venezuela's efforts to get on the scoreboard were met with resistance as Lai showcased his ability to notch strikeouts. In the fifth inning, Taiwan extended their lead when Luis and Samuel Carrasquel collided while attempting to catch a flyball, allowing Chen to round the bases and increase the lead to four runs.

Venezuela made a late push in the sixth inning, putting runners on second and third thanks to a double by Abraham Lucena. However, their hopes were dashed as a groundout allowed one run to score before Simon Vicheria grounded out to Chiu, who had taken on the role of relief pitcher, sealing the victory for Taiwan.

"We will take a moment to celebrate, maybe an hour," Cheng-Ta stated. "But tonight, our focus will shift to the championship game tomorrow. We know what lies ahead, and we are ready for the challenge."

With Lai Cheng-Xi's exceptional pitching leading the way, Taiwan is poised to reclaim the Little League World Series title and add yet another triumph to their storied history in the tournament.