TAIWAN SERIES TIED AT 1-1, T-REX FRANCHISE FORCED TO DISBAND

The President Lions defeated the Brother Elephants, 5-4, last weekend in Game Two of the 2008 Taiwan Series to tie the title set at one game apiece. A crowd of more than 17,000 turned out for the contest as Lions first baseman K.C. Kao went 2-for-3 at the plate with a triple and two RBIs. President's ace pitcher Pan “Du Du” Wei-Lun pitched eight innings and gave up four runs on seven hits, including a two-run homer by Lin Ming-Hsien.

Brother won the opening game 9-3 behind Wang Chin-Yong's two-run homer, three hits including two doubles with two RBIs from Chen Kuan-Jen, and game MVP Wang Sheng-Wei's single and double with a ribbie.

While the playoffs wind down in Taiwan, the league disbanded the dMedia T-Rex franchise after the team was embroiled in game-fixing allegations following their offseason purchase by new ownership alleged to have deep ties with organized crime. The reduction of the T-Rex leaves the Chinese Professional Baseball League with five teams after a year marked by financial problems and low attendance figures. There is some concern among observers that the league may not return in 2009, leaving Taiwan without pro baseball.