Photo: JIT

Havana, Jun 29 (JIT) The Cuban team won twice on Friday at the First Pan American Baseball5 2024 Tournament held at the Domo Bolivariano, in Venezuela, valid for a ticket to the next world championship in Hong Kong.

Earlier in the day, the squad of the coach Pablo Terry beat Puerto Rico 2-0 (super knockout 21x0, 8x4), with outstanding hitting by the capital's torpedo Orlando Amador, with 11 hits. Among the girls, the applause went to Guantanamo's starter Chaquira Aspiazú, who hit eight.

The second segment of this game was tied (4x4) in the fifth episode and had to be decided in extra-inning. The Cubans made a decisive four-run rally and did not allow any opponent to score.

In the closing match, Cuba defeated Mexico 2-1 (17x0, 2-5, 18x0 knockout), the first set lost by a team from the island in the senior category in international events.

Coincidentally, another Mexican team "stole" a set from a Cuban youth team in the Ankara 2023 universal competition, according to data provided to JIT by Eros Bernal, technical director of baseball5 in Cuba.

Once again, Amador was the key player on offense, with 12 hits, which added to his 11 against Puerto Rico, brought his total number of first base hits to 23.

This Saturday, on the last day of the qualifying phase, the undefeated Cuban team will face Puerto Rico and Venezuela, teams that along with Mexico are competing for the two remaining spots for next October's World Cup.

Cuba must take first place and would advance directly to Sunday's final. In that instance, it will face the winner of the semifinal between the second and third place teams.