Havana, (RHC) - With a tight 1-0 score against Cuba, Nicaragua reached the Pan American (Pre-World) Championship crown for U-23 baseball.

Jesus Lopez, named the MVP of the tournament, brought in the only run of the game in the bottom of the third inning after a hit and run play that put runners on the corners.

Cuba, which had an excellent tournament, could not exploit their six hits, three of them coming out of the bat of their captain, Shortstop César Prieto, but they said goodbye with one of the three tickets given out for the World Cup tobe played in Mexico in October.

Local manager Sandor Guido bet on left-handed Shayder Garcia, who covered 6.1 innings with three punch outs and one base hit permitted. Then the right-handed Julio Sevilla and the also lefty Julio Castelló sealed the deal.

Cuba depended on the right-handed Yankiel Sanchez, author of six strike outs and able to limit to four the number of hits of the opposition, but without the necessary offensive support.

The other World Cup ticket was taken by Venezuela, who defeated Colombia 9-0 in the first match on Sunday.