Image reproduced from 聯合新聞網

The Free Elementary School baseball team, from the indigenous school in the Peace District of Taichung City, has successfully secured a spot to represent Taiwan in the 2025 Babe Ruth League World Series after a dramatic victory in the national selection tournament held at the end of March. Mayor Lu Shiuyin visited the school on the 27th, delivering 710,000 NTD for their travel expenses as part of a special initiative to support the team. Lu, reflecting on her own childhood experiences of financial hardships during travel, further contributed an additional 100,000 NTD as a “bonus,” encouraging the kids to pay attention to nutrition while competing in the U.S. She also expressed gratitude to Legislative Yuan Vice President Jiang Qichen for his efforts in rallying corporate sponsorship totaling one million NTD, supporting the kids' journey to represent the country.

The young players expressed their gratitude through handwritten cards, thanking the city government and businesses for their support. They mentioned, “We appreciate the city government's efforts in showcasing the hard work of rural schools,” and “We are thankful to the education bureau for their financial aid and equipment, enabling us to achieve our dream of going abroad,” while also vowing to “work hard to achieve good results.” This heartfelt appreciation moved Mayor Lu and other attendees present.

Mayor Lu highlighted that Free Elementary School has been dedicated to developing the sport of baseball for many years. Despite limited resources, the faculty and students continue to persevere in their dreams, earning respect from all. She shared a personal story about how her son once won a handball championship but faced financial limitations that forced them to eat instant noodles and dry rations when traveling abroad. Thus, she emphasized the importance of experiencing local foods and extending their horizons during their stay in the U.S.

Lu also stated pride in the school's 103-year history, emphasizing the school's accomplishments in various areas. She expressed her gratitude for Jiang's assistance in securing sponsorship from the business community to support the team’s expenses, ensuring that the kids can effectively embark on their trip to the United States. Jiang encouraged the players, stating that dreams should be pursued, and that challenges would always have helpers such as the mayor and business leaders present to support their aspirations.

According to the Education Bureau, the Free Elementary School baseball team has produced many outstanding athletes, attracting over 20 students from other counties to enroll in the school. The bureau also promotes a “Strong Bat Plan,” allocating over 20 million NTD annually to support coaches' salaries and training programs while seeking additional funding from the sports authority to promote the development of school-level baseball teams.