My journey in collegiate baseball began in my freshman year at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU). After competing in the Freshman Cup with a group of passionate peers, we realized our department lacked a formal team. We didn’t just want to play; we wanted to build a lasting program. However, the barrier to entry was high—the cost of essential equipment like bats, catcher’s gear, and balls was a significant financial burden for a group of students.
To turn this vision into reality, I took the initiative to seek external support. I reached out to Mr. Pua Khein-Seng, the CEO of Phison Electronics and a distinguished alumnus of NYCU ECE. Recognizing the value of teamwork and sportsmanship in engineering education, Mr. Pua generously provided NTD 70,000 in sponsorship. This crucial funding allowed us to fully equip the team and officially establish the NYCU ECE Baseball Team.
Building a competitive team from scratch proved to be a lesson in patience. Our debut at the National Inter-Departmental Baseball Tournament was humbling; we lost both games in our first year. We returned in our second year with a larger roster of junior players, yet the results remained the same: another two losses.
We didn't let the scoreboard define us. We focused on consistent training and team culture. In our third year, the persistence finally paid off—we secured our first-ever victory in the opening round and advanced to the second round of the National Tournament.
Shortly after that milestone, I departed for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) as an exchange student, passing the captaincy to a dedicated junior.
Today, the team I helped found from ground up has grown into a thriving community of over 30 active players. They continue to uphold the tradition of competing in the National Tournament every year and maintain a regular schedule of friendly matches with other departments. Seeing the program become a sustainable part of the ECE student experience remains one of my proudest achievements.
When I arrived at UIUC, I traded the Hsinchu wind for the Midwest breeze and joined the Taiwan Leopards. This team serves as a cornerstone for the Taiwanese community at UIUC, bringing together students who share a deep-rooted love for the game. Competing in a competitive local league, we faced a diverse lineup of opponents, including two disciplined Korean squads and a local American team. The league structure demanded consistency, with full seasons spanning both the Fall and Spring semesters.
My time with the Leopards was defined by a relentless winning culture. I had the privilege of contributing to a historic run where we crowned champions in both the Fall and Spring seasons. As a versatile utility player, I took on several roles to help the team succeed, including infielder, outfielder and pitcher. Winning those titles wasn't just about the trophies; it was about the friendship of the Taiwanese community in Illinois and the thrill of representing our heritage on an American field.
While my current focus is completing my M.S. degree back home at NYCU, my journey with the Leopards isn't over. The memories of those championship games remain a highlight of my time abroad, and I fully intend to suit up and rejoin the Taiwan Leopards once I return to UIUC to continue my academic and professional journey.