Three Chinese Taipei pitchers combined to throw a perfect game during a 6-0 win over Canada at the Little League World Series on Thursday, but it was the flame-throwing Fan Chen-Jun who stole the show.
The 12-year-old right-hander started the game for Chinese Taipei, throwing 3 2/3 innings and striking out nine of the 11 batters he faced while allowing just two balls in play.
Chen-Jun’s fastball was clocked at a blazing 80 mph with a slider that hit at least 70 mph.
He garnered swings-and-misses on nearly half of his pitches — 16 of 35 — thrown.
In the third, Chen-Jun tossed an immaculate inning — striking out all three hitters on nine total pitches.
Chen-Jun dominated on the mound, but he also showed he is an impressive force with the bat as well.
He capped off a three-run rally by Chinese Taipei in the top of the third inning when he smacked a two-run homer to left.
Chiu Tse-Wei and Cai Yuan-Hao combined to pitch the final 2 1/3 innings, striking out five of the last seven hitters after Chen-Jun departed.
In total, Chinese Taipei struck out 14 of 18 Canadian hitters in the game.
With just 35 pitches thrown, Chen-Jun will be available to pitch in Chinese Taipei’s next contest.
It was the first perfect game in the Little League World Series since 2017 and just the eighth in tournament history.
Chinese Taipei holds the LLWS record with 17 championships.
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