Things were looking bleak for the 16-under U.S. National players, who found themselves in a rather deep hole against the Chinese Taipei baseball team.
They fell behind by eight runs, as well as making mistake after mistake.
And then it became a little fun, mixed in with a local flavor.
Kevin Kramer, the Turlock High junior second baseman, was part of an American team that pulled off a stunning rally in the opener of the World Youth Baseball Championships medal rounds at Intercontinental Stadium in Taichung, Taiwan, on Friday afternoon. He went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles, an RBI and two runs scored in an 11-8 win.
Kramer has been an integral part for the Americans, who finished pool play 5-0 and outscored teams 86-9 during that dominant span. Of course, competition got a little heavier entering the medals round. And there wasn’t a better team to start this new segment of the tournament than Chinese Taipei, which provided the Americans an 8-3 defeat in the first exhibition game for both teams.
The outcome looked disastrous Friday afternoon, when the Americans were in an 8-0 hole after three innings. But Cory Geisler of Spring, Texas, came in to relief thereafter, providing an immediate boost. He was able to shut down Chinese Taipei the rest of the way, while his teammates started hitting.
The U.S. cut the lead to 8-6 in the bottom of the fourth with four runs, giving the Americans new hope. And then Kramer lined a leadoff double into the left-field corner in the fifth that started a three-run rally.
The Americans never stopped rolling, thanks to Geisler’s unstoppable pitching and the players producing at least two runs in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth.
And one more thing: Kramer’s two doubles tied a U.S. single-game record.
To contact Chhun Sun, e-mail csun@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2041.
They fell behind by eight runs, as well as making mistake after mistake.
And then it became a little fun, mixed in with a local flavor.
Kevin Kramer, the Turlock High junior second baseman, was part of an American team that pulled off a stunning rally in the opener of the World Youth Baseball Championships medal rounds at Intercontinental Stadium in Taichung, Taiwan, on Friday afternoon. He went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles, an RBI and two runs scored in an 11-8 win.
Kramer has been an integral part for the Americans, who finished pool play 5-0 and outscored teams 86-9 during that dominant span. Of course, competition got a little heavier entering the medals round. And there wasn’t a better team to start this new segment of the tournament than Chinese Taipei, which provided the Americans an 8-3 defeat in the first exhibition game for both teams.
The outcome looked disastrous Friday afternoon, when the Americans were in an 8-0 hole after three innings. But Cory Geisler of Spring, Texas, came in to relief thereafter, providing an immediate boost. He was able to shut down Chinese Taipei the rest of the way, while his teammates started hitting.
The U.S. cut the lead to 8-6 in the bottom of the fourth with four runs, giving the Americans new hope. And then Kramer lined a leadoff double into the left-field corner in the fifth that started a three-run rally.
The Americans never stopped rolling, thanks to Geisler’s unstoppable pitching and the players producing at least two runs in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth.
And one more thing: Kramer’s two doubles tied a U.S. single-game record.
To contact Chhun Sun, e-mail csun@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2041.
