The 31st Indigenous Baseball Association Care Cup

Diamond Group
Jul 17
2 min read

willy February 5, 2025

The Care Cup is organized by the Taiwan Indigenous Baseball Development Association (TIBDA) and initiated by both active and retired indigenous professional baseball players. This tournament is specifically designed for indigenous children, with at least 70% of each participating team required to be of indigenous descent. The goal is to promote grassroots baseball development in Hualien and Taitung through competition.

The Aki-Masa Foundation, in collaboration with Mizuno Taiwan, proudly supports the Care Cup by providing baseball equipment as prizes, encouraging children from rural areas to bravely pursue their dreams.

This year’s tournament featured 62 teams across three divisions. In the softball little league division, the event welcomed Japan’s Okinawa Maeda Hawks, marking the second consecutive year that a Japanese team was invited for cultural and athletic exchange. The team’s manager,Akinori Nakasone, expressed his hopes that his players would cherish their first overseas experience, learn about Taiwanese culture, and remarked, "Through the recent WBSC Premier12 tournament, the world has witnessed the growing strength of Taiwan's baseball."

During the games, it was observed that Okinawa Maeda Hawks players who were not on the field actively helped organize equipment and tidy up the dugout area. Manager NakasoneAkinori Nakasoneexplained, "A baseball field is a sacred place. If the environment is not well-maintained, players’ performances may also suffer. That’s why I encourage my players to take the initiative in cleaning up and developing good habits." This philosophy highlights the importance of mutual learning between Taiwan and Japan, fostering better baseball cultures in both countries.

The 31st Indigenous Baseball Association Care Cup – Tournament Information

Tournament Dates: November 29 – December 2, 2024

Divisions & Results：

Junior League： (Aluminum Bat – Hardball)

Champion: Kaohsiung Ci Sian

Runner-up: Yilan San Sing

Third Place: Taitung Tai Yuan

Fourth Place: Nantou San Guang

Little League：(Aluminum Bat – Hardball)

Champion: Taitung Hong Ye

Runner-up: Yilan San Sing

Third Place: Taitung Bei Nan