The Flynn Little League won the third place in the Williamsport Little League and celebrated with the national flag after the game.

(Provided by Zhang Zijian)

Reporter Luo Zhipeng / Interview

Youqi Tsao during Flynn's Little League.

(Provided by Zhang Zijian)

Foreword: Once had a dream of professional baseball, and also aimed to be promoted to an official player of Taipower. His life took a turn. Zhang Zijian devoted himself to the grassroots and coached the Taipei Fulin Little League for more than 10 years. Last year, he led troops to compete in the 75th LLB World Little League Championship (William Porter Little League) won the third place and wrote the best record of the Taiwan team in the past 12 years. He said emotionally, "Baseball has enriched my life."

Zhang Zijian is a full-time Flynn Little League coach and has dedicated himself to the grassroots for many years.

(Photo by reporter Luo Zhipeng)

Defeat the South Korean star team to win the Asia-Pacific representation

Flynn Little League play in Williamsport Little League.

(Provided by Zhang Zijian)

The Taipei Flynn Little League won the third place in the Williamsport Little League last year, which was the best record of the Taiwan team in the past 12 years. The head coach Zhang Zijian said, "It was a dreamy three weeks in Williamsport. .”

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Last year's Williamsport Little League game was packed with fans.

(Provided by Zhang Zijian)

In April last year, Flynn first won the Xie Guocheng Little League Championship to obtain the right to represent Taiwan. At the end of June, he went to Seoul to compete for the right to represent the Asia-Pacific region. In the first game, he lost to the landlord South Korea 1:2 and fell into the defeat. After that, he went all the way to the final again. Encountered South Korea, and finally defeated the opponent 1:0, and went smoothly to Williamsport.

Flynn Little League head coach Zhang Zijian (photo by reporter Luo Zhipeng)

"Winning the right to represent the Asia-Pacific region, the whole team hugged and cried, and the overseas Chinese in the stands also cried. I was very touched." Zhang Zijian said that Taiwan has not represented the Asia-Pacific region in the Williamsport Little League game for seven years, and this victory is so necessary. Before the trip, domestic Little League coaches Li Zhengda, Zhang Zhennan and Lai Minnan all gave him a lot of valuable advice, such as paying attention to South Korea’s small movements and what shoes to prepare for the artificial turf field. “Frankly speaking, the pressure is very high.”

Flynn beat South Korea first, won the Asia-Pacific representation and went to Williamsport.

(Provided by Zhang Zijian)

South Korea’s Seoul All-Star team, and Taiwan’s Fulin single-team challenge, Zhang Zijian felt that something was wrong when he saw the opponent’s practice, “They are really too strong, can we win?” Frankly speaking, it was very hard for a week and I couldn't sleep well.

Wang Weichen (right), the son of "thriller" Wang Guanghui (left), is also the second generation of stars brought out by Zhang Zijian.

(file photo)

In the final, Flynn relied on ace pitcher Liao Yuan to seal the victory, personally contributed a long hit, and then relied on the opponent's error to run back to the winning point.

Zhang Zijian said that the opponent's pitcher is over 180 cm tall and has a fast ball speed. According to the search data, South Korean hitters are not good at hitting the change ball. Hit a base, hit a helmet on a return pass, and we're in America because of that."

Chen Jiale (right), the son of Chen Ruichang, played in the Flinders Little League.

(Provided by Zhang Zijian)

Zhang Zijian revealed that the process of qualifying in the Asia-Pacific region was tortuous, like riding a roller coaster. In the battle against Guam, our runners touched home plate first but were sent out. Fortunately, we won the overtime PK, otherwise we would be eliminated. In the final half In the game, the opponent hit a throw-in but the penalty was changed to an in-bounds. Fortunately, it was not reversed.

Experience the big league treatment Williamsport takes third place

The Flynn Little League won the right to represent the Asia-Pacific region and went to Williamsport for 3 weeks. Zhang Zijian said that he would go to the United States one week before the start of the game. The official team needs to order outfits, photos and videos. At the airport, the team will go through a special priority channel to Williamsport. No matter where you go, there are special people to clear the way. Although it is a small town, everyone is fully motivated for this competition. 6000 Taiwan dollars).”

Zhang Zijian will never forget the words of the chairman of Little League Baseball (LLB), "The chairman told everyone that there are 10 teams in the international group and 10 teams in the American group. It took a total of 16,000 games to produce these 20 teams; on the first day of the opening, the headquarters A gold medal is awarded to each person, which means that each team is the champion of each district. After many years, you will no longer know who the champion of Williamsport in 2022 is, but you must clearly remember that you came to Williamsport in 2022.”

Zhang Zijian said that ESPN, the broadcast unit, knew that the members of Flynn's coaching staff were all players he had coached in the past, so they specially conducted an exclusive interview with the theme of "the head coach brings students, and then brings younger students to the Williamsport game." He said that the organizer treats the players as major league players. After the game, after the game is over, the jerseys will be taken off by someone for washing, and then sent back after washing and drying.

Zhang Zijian said that the Williamport Little League has a main court and an auxiliary court. The main court is for the American team to play, and the auxiliary court is for the international team. After entering the semifinals, they will all be on the main court. There are also 5 courts around the park for practice. Big, dreamy and beautiful.

The Flynn Little League team passed 3 rounds in a row in the international group. In the semi-finals, they faced the Caribbean team with a score of 0:1, and then defeated the US Southeast Division 2:0 to win the third place.

Zhang Zijian said, "At first, I thought playing in the United States would make my dream come true, but many overseas Chinese drove 6 hours to the stadium and brought Chinese snacks to the young players. They drove home after the game and came back in the next game. The current atmosphere is very moving. Tell me I have to find a way to win and let the flag continue to fly on the field.”

Zhang Zijian recalled that Wang Yuanfu hit a far-reaching fly ball in the semifinals and was about to form a spring home run, but was caught by the opponent's outfielder. The 20,000 fans in the audience sighed, which was very shocking. After finishing the victory, he raced 13K, and the game was without any suspense. After the game, he ran around the stadium holding the national flag, which will never be forgotten.

Not crowded professional baseball, Taipower Narrow Gate is determined to contribute to the grassroots

Zhang Zijian was very active since he was a child, and later joined the Ford Little League. He moved to Tucheng in junior high school. Because the school did not have a baseball team, it was interrupted. At the Taipei Municipal Baseball Stadium, as soon as the door of the dormitory is opened, you can lead to the stadium, and there are free professional baseball games to watch.

Gao Yingjie, a graduate coach from North Sports, recommended Zhang Zijian to Taipower. He originally wanted to go north to play in the Association Cup, but encountered the 921 earthquake, and amateur games were completely suspended. Due to too many players queuing up, he stayed in Taipower for a year and waited for no official players. , and there was no game to play, so he returned to North Sports to study the two-year physical education department (restructured into the Taipei Sports Institute) and further study in education. During this period, he was introduced by a friend to serve as an assistant coach in Fulin Little League.

Professional baseball and promotion to Taipower official players were originally Zhang Zijian’s baseball life list, but he thought that professional baseball and Taipower’s gates were too narrow, and there would always be twists and turns after playing for a long time. Grassroots coaching this way.

Zhang Zijian finished his education program and practiced for half a year, then took the teacher certification exam and studied hard. He took the exam three times and passed with a score of 60. The first two times he passed the exam with less than one point difference. Tell yourself, "If you fail the exam again, just give up!" Huang Tian paid off, this time he passed the exam with a score of 61.

Later, Zhang Zijian became the coach of the Xinming Youth League and Zhongping Junior League. He said that at that time, the Flynn Little League couldn’t recruit players, and there was no full-time coaching system. He first went to Taoyuan to teach for 3 years. The impact is far-reaching, and the concept of being a coach instilled in him by Zhang Cangbin is very useful.

In 2009, Zhang Zijian was admitted to the full-time Flynn Little League coach and became the first batch of full-time sports coaches in the new system. Since then, he has been the head coach of Flynn. He said with a smile, "Mom is happier than me. After all, she is a public servant in the establishment. Life Stablize."

Zhang Zijian said frankly that he likes baseball very much, but he did not expect to be a coach. He cannot do without baseball from school to work. Even his son was born in the Flynn Little League and is now playing in the Chongqing Youth League. "Baseball has enriched my life. .”

Instructing many second-generation stars, 3 of them have entered secondary school

Zhang Zijian brought out quite a few second-generation professional baseball stars, including Wang Guanghui, Cao Junyi, Chen Ruichang's sons Wang Weichen, Cao Youqi, and Chen Jiale. The three second-generation stars have all entered professional baseball. In addition, Shen Yujie, Huang Qinzhi, Zhou Dexian's sons Shen Lichen, Huang Youming, Zhou Bingheng is also Zhang Zijian's favorite student.

Chen Ruichang often goes to school

Caring about Chen Jiale

Among this group of "star dads", Zhang Zijian said that Chen Ruichang was the most enthusiastic. During Chen Jiale's Little League days, Chen Ruichang often came to school to care for his son and grew up with Chen Jiale. Empty, three strikes."

Wang Guanghui comes

school heartthrob

Zhang Zijian said that Wang Guanghui seldom came to school to visit Wang Weichen, but whenever he came, he always caused a sensation. He was indeed a "thriller". Young players flocked to see him. Young baseball Qiu Haojun and Wang Weichen were classmates, and the two were super athletic. Well, it's also the second and third tour partner.

Xiaoliu only joined

Cao You Unveils His Talents

Zhang Zijian said that Tsao You-chi joined the school team relatively late and joined the school team in Primary Six. However, he is very self-disciplined and has an outstanding figure. low key.

Zhang Zijian pointed out that there is no pressure on the second generation of stars, and there will be no "special treatment" for them. On the contrary, there are many benefits. For example, if the catcher has problems with the catch skills, he will consult Chen Ruichang and sometimes Huang Qinzhi. The school teaches pitchers, especially left-handers, how to pitch.

The Flynn Little League was established in 1984. Including Zhang Zijian, there are currently 5 members of the coaching staff, with a total of 51 players.