Image reproduced from 工商時報

After eight years of hard work, the Dongyuan Elementary School Little League team has qualified to participate in the 2025 Little League Baseball World Series Asia-Pacific Championship. The upcoming tournament will take place in Korea this June.

In March of this year, the Dongyuan team defeated Taoyuan City’s Guishan Elementary School with a score of 11 to 5 in the championship match of the Hsieh Kuo-Cheng Cup National Little League Championships. This victory marks their return to the Asia-Pacific tournament after an eight-year hiatus. The Taipei City Government organized a flag-raising ceremony to support the team, where Mayor Jiang Wan-an presented the Chinese Olympic Committee flag to Principal Chen Yu-Ching, while the city flag was handed over to Head Coach Lai Min-nan and Team Captain Chen Shih-hung.

With a history spanning 82 years, the Dongyuan Elementary School Little League team has produced many exceptional athletes, including Sun Yilei of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Chiang Kun-yu of the Chinatrust Brothers, along with Liang Chia-jung of the Rakuten Monkeys and Chang Yi of the Fubon Guardians. The team has consistently performed well in national competitions and claimed its first title in the elementary school baseball league this year.

This trip to Korea presents an opportunity for the team to potentially set new records in their history. During the flag-raising ceremony, the Taipei City Education Bureau announced that the Dongyuan Little League team had prepared a self-composed cheering song to welcome Mayor Jiang Wan-an. The lyrics reflect their dreams of competing in the United States and a wish to enjoy a “delicious feast.”

Additionally, team member Lin Jinze, serving as the main pitcher, demonstrated his skills in a batting practice session with the mayor at the event's conclusion, showcasing the team's excitement and confidence for the upcoming tournament. For this year's participation, the Taipei City Education and Sports Bureaus jointly allocated NT$1.8 million in funding, while the Songshan Cihui Temple and Guandu Temple also contributed financial support and provided over 100 safety talismans, actively supporting the Dongyuan team.