Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ

Aug 14, 2025 By Jerin Steele 4 min read

WASHINGTON — Washington County led by three runs entering the bottom of the fifth inning, and with a raucous crowd at Lew Hays Pony Field behind them, it felt like the stage was set for a history-making night.

But in the bottom of the fifth, several errors opened the door and Chinese Taipei proceeded to play the role of heartbreakers.

Chinese Taipei scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth and held on from there to defeat Washington County, 6-4, in the Pony League World Series Championship Wednesday night.

Washington County was seeking its first Pony League World Series title since 1955. The host team played for the championship two years ago when it suffered an 8-2 setback to Edogawa, Japan.

Monongahela won the title in 1954 and Washington followed with a championship, but Washington County is still searching for its third title.

“It was a tough fifth inning,” Washington manager John Przybylinski said. “It was just enough of a crack for them to squeak a few runs across. I take nothing away from our kids. That team we played was really good. It was a great baseball game.”

Washington County attempted a rally in the seventh, getting the tying runs on first and second, but Chinese Taipei reliever En Chen got a strikeout and a groundout to record a save.

The win was the capper of an impressive run through the elimination bracket for Chinese Taipei, which won its 12th title.

They won six elimination games, including two on Wednesday, defeating Simi Valley, California, 5-2, in the morning to get to the championship game.

“We worked very hard to get here,” Chinese Taipei manager Chao-Sheng Chang said. “We tell our kids to never give up. When we were down (3-0) we told them to keep going.”

The big inning for Chinese Taipei started with a one-out walk by You-Tang Zhang, who moved to second on an error on a pitchout and a snap throw to first by Washington County catcher Lucas Daniels.

Chen was hit-by-pitch to load the bases. With the infield drawn in, Zi-Hao Quan hit a grounder to third. Washington County third baseman Andrew Irwin threw home, but it was wide of Daniels, and Zhang scored to make it 3-1.

Zi-Han Yang came up next and deposited a single to right field that scored two runs to tie it. Chei-Yu Sung hit a sacrifice fly to center field to bring in the go-ahead run and seemingly in the blink of an eye, Washington County went from a 3-0 lead to a 4-3 deficit.

Chinese Taipei added two more insurance runs in the sixth.

Before the rally, Washington County was in control thanks in part to an outstanding start from Braxton Thompson, who allowed two earned runs over 5 â…“ innings and had five strikeouts.

“Braxton was lights out tonight,” Przbylinski said. “He gave us everything he had and I greatly appreciate that. All of our kids gave everything they had. Just a couple mistakes on the defensive side and unfortunately sometimes that’s the way it goes.”

Kaden Harkins smashed an 0-1 offering from Chinese Taipei starter Zi-Han Yang over the right field fence to give Washington County a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth.

It was his second homer of the tournament.

Washington County added two runs in the fifth. Ethan Amos drew a lead-off walk, moved to second on a balk and scored on a two-out double by Daniels.

Daniels hit a line drive to left that Chinese Taipei left fielder You-Tang Zhang lost in the lights. Colton Mumford entered as a courtesy runner at second and scored on an RBI single to right by Luke Henderson.

Both teams stranded a runner in scoring position in the first inning.

Carson Simmers blistered a ball over Zhang’s head in left with two outs in the top of the first, but Yang got a strikeout of Kaden Harkins to strand him.

Quan walked with one out in the bottom half and was sacrificed to second by Yang, but Thompson got Chei-Yu Sung to ground out to third base for the third out.

Thompson led off the second with a single and was replaced by courtesy runner Jackson Greene.

Greene stole second and attempted to steal third with two outs, but was thrown out by Quan.

Washington County committed two errors in the bottom of the second, but escaped unscathed. Erwin threw high to second base on a potential double play ball, but Simmers charged in from right field and threw a perfect strike to third base to nab Shih-Min Chung, who tried to take an extra base.

Thompson had a pick-off attempt go awry, which allowed Ye-Le Li to move to second base, but he got a groundout and a strikeout to strand him at third.