Taiwan won its 15th Little League World Series championship Saturday, using Pan Chih-Chang's 14 strikeouts and Lin Wei-Chu's grand slam to route San Ramon Valley, Calif., 11-0.
California starter Kevin Graham stifled Taiwan with 78 mph fastballs in the first and second innings, but Fang Sheng connected for a 240-foot home run in the third that triggered the onslaught.After the Tai Chung Little Leaguers chased Graham in the fifth, Lin hit his grand slam off reliever Jason Barringer for an 11-0 lead, capping an eight-run inning.
Taiwan now is 47-3, including 15-2 in championship games, since its first appearance in the Little League tournament in 1969. A crowd of 36,000, most of them on the hills overlooking Lamade Stadium, watched as Taiwan won its second title in a row. Last year, Taiwan beat Shippensburg, Pa., 9-0.
A California team finished as runner-up for the 12th time in 15 title game appearances, the most second-place finishes by any state.
Lin and Fang, Taiwan's first two hitters, each hit four home runs during the series.