and "The runner got a hit and seemed satisfied," so the surprise pickoff attempt resulted in an OUT! The Korean representative shortstop who joined the Arizona team has amazing baseball sense.

*This content was translated by AI.

Eom Jun-sang (18), who signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (MLB), shared his thoughts after the victory against Taiwan.

The South Korean U-18 national baseball team defeated Taiwan 2-0 in the first group stage match (7-inning game) of the 14th Asian Youth Baseball Championship held on the 7th at Tianmu Stadium in Taipei, Taiwan.

On this day, Eom Jun-sang made a relief appearance as the second pitcher following starter Ha Hyun-seong, pitching 1⅓ innings with one hit allowed and two strikeouts while keeping the scoreless to secure the team's victory.

After the game, Eom Jun-sang said, "We faced a tough opponent from Taiwan right in the first game. Since it was Taiwan's home field, there were many spectators. At first, I worried we might get too nervous and freeze up. But the players didn't feel tense as if they were playing in Korea; instead, everyone smiled and enjoyed themselves, which is why we could win."

Continuing about the victory against Taiwan after two years, he added, "Even within the team, we knew that winning the first game would qualify us for the Super Round. Since it increases our chances of reaching the finals, we considered this match extremely important. The head coach and coaches also emphasized its importance. We were able to win because the players showed exactly what they had prepared for. There will be difficult games ahead in the Super Round, but I think we'll be able to approach them with a slightly more relaxed mindset."

Eom Jun-sang's appearance on this day was scheduled in advance. He stated, "Since it was an important game, I knew beforehand that (Ha) Hyun-seong would pitch first and I would follow up. Before the game, I thoroughly analyzed the opposing batters' strengths and weaknesses."

Regarding the situation where he immediately recorded an out upon taking the mound in the 6th inning, he said, "We were leading by two runs. I thought that allowing even one run could make things difficult at the end. So I decided we had to face them head-on without issuing any walks. I threw inside fastballs, and the result was good."

On the pickoff attempt after allowing the leadoff batter to reach base in the 7th inning, he explained, "There were so many Taiwan fans that the noise was loud, but since it was a familiar situation, I focused on the game. After the runner hit a single and reached base, I sensed they were satisfied with their performance. That made me think a pickoff attempt would catch them off guard, so I tried a surprise pickoff." He then boasted about his baseball sense.

Regarding his batting skills, he said, "It's not something to brag about, but even though I was out in my first at-bat, it was a well-hit ball. If the ball had been slightly slower, it could have become a double. The opposing left fielder made an excellent catch. We had opportunities early on, but they were lost, shifting the momentum toward Taiwan. Still, we brought back a positive atmosphere later in the game."

On the situation during the go-ahead hit, he explained, "The coach told us that if a ground ball comes out, the runner from third base should sprint home without hesitation at 100%. So I entered with peace of mind. When analyzing the opposing pitcher's strengths beforehand, I knew his breaking ball was very sharp. However, when I actually faced him, it felt duller than I expected. Thanks to Jo Hee-seong's speed, we were able to score."

Regarding his defensive play in the 1st inning, he said, "A similar situation occurred during last year's game against Japan. At that time, I made a running throw and was called safe. I remember it being tough from the start. It was a ball direction I liked and a throwing stance I preferred. This was one of the most memorable defensive plays in my baseball career." He showed confidence.

Eom Jun-sang, who also contributed with a save-worthy play on the go-ahead hit, said, "I couldn't show much batting performance last year, so I really wanted to demonstrate it this year. It was disappointing that I didn't get a hit, but I hope to show good performances in future at-bats. Since defense is my strength, I will show that I can play without trembling even in major tournaments." He reaffirmed his determination once again.

As the team captain, he concluded by addressing his teammates, "There are probably no players other than Hyun-seong and myself who have experienced such a big game. The players might have been nervous, but they played without trembling and enjoyed themselves, which allowed us to win. If we perform well in the next game and play good games in the Super Round, I think we can win the gold medal." He looked forward to the future.

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*This content was translated by AI.