(Sports Corresponden: Imran Sohail)
Ground Crew: The Unsung Heroes Behind the Scenes at the WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup 2025
The summer monsoon season in Taiwan brings unpredictable downpours and challenging weather conditions, but thanks to a dedicated team working tirelessly behind the scenes, the WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup 2025 in Tainan City has stayed on track. These hardworking individuals are the ground crew, often overlooked but absolutely essential to the success of the tournament.
While the 12 participating teams focus on their daily games, another team—comprised of 40 college baseball players from CTBC University of Technology—works across two fields, preparing for up to six games a day. They arrive before sunrise and leave only after the final pitch, often dirtier than the players themselves.
Meet the Leader: Jou-Kai Yang
Leading this extraordinary team is Jou-Kai Yang, a former college pitcher and current coach of CTBC University of Technology’s baseball team. Yang knows the venue well—he started as a bat boy during the 2019 edition of the same tournament. Today, he leads a crew that not only supports the U-12 World Cup but also works at minor league games of the Chinese Professional Baseball League.
“As baseball players, they’ve always taken care of their own field,” said Yang. “That’s where they learn to respect the game and everything around it.”
Battling the Elements
This year’s tournament has been heavily impacted by Taiwan’s typhoons and monsoons. At one point, Tainan City even issued a work stoppage due to heavy rain. But the ground crew remained on standby, watching the skies closely.
“As soon as the sky darkens, we switch from baseball pants to shorts and sandals,” said Yang. “When rain hits, we’re ready—waiting by the tunnel to rush out with the tarp the moment the umpire pauses play.”
It’s a well-coordinated operation: the crew sprints onto the field, unrolls the tarp, aligns it perfectly, and secures it in just minutes. These are not impromptu actions—they’re the result of dedicated practice and hands-on experience.
Precision Through Practice
Before the tournament began, the crew rehearsed their routines at all four fields, preparing for every possible weather scenario. Yang recalled earlier challenges from 2019, when the team had no rollers and had to manually carry and fold the heavy tarp.
Once the rain passes, their work continues—removing water, patching potholes, and restoring the field to playable condition using sponges, buckets, and sand.
Even after the game resumes, the crew shifts to other roles—serving as bat and ball attendants, cleaning equipment, assisting fans in the stands, and helping at the gates. It’s a multi-skilled team with a passion for the game and a deep sense of responsibility.
A Lesson in Discipline and Teamwork
“It’s not just physically demanding—there’s a mental side too,” Yang explained. “They must learn to delegate, support each other, and adapt to tough weather conditions.”
Yang constantly reminds his team to take every task seriously—on and off the field. Senior players often motivate others through messages, sharing advice and building team morale.
Over time, the crew has become more independent and effective. “At the start, I would get hundreds of questions through my headset,” said Yang. “But now, they know how to assess the situation and respond with solutions on their own.”
A Job Done Right
The ground crew’s work is both physically intense and highly skilled. With 28 team members assigned to the main field and 12 more at the second venue, their long days end with well-earned rest. “As soon as they return to the dorms, they’re out like a light,” Yang joked.
And yet, each morning, they’re back before sunrise, ready to ensure the stadium is in perfect condition for another day of world-class baseball—rain or shine.
Conclusion
The WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup 2025 has been a stage for young baseball talent, but behind every successful game is a team of committed individuals making it all possible. The ground crew may not appear on the scoreboard, but their effort, discipline, and teamwork are essential to the game. Their story is a powerful reminder that every role matters—and sometimes, the hardest work happens out of the spotlight.
