Havana, August 19 (JIT) -- The Cuban team today gave a convincing knockout to Australia and keeps dreaming big in the Little League Baseball 2023 World Series, taking place in the U.S. city of Williamsport.

In this first victory in the history of the event, the Cuban ballplayers gave 11 runs in five out of six innings to their Australian rivals, who were only able to score on one occasion.

The victory of the Bayamese was the ticket they needed to continue advancing, since the competition system applied is double elimination: whoever loses twice packs their bags.

The two teams met at the Williamsport Volunteers Stadium in front of an audience that supported Cuba. The blue and white striped flags, the red triangle and the lone star were seen from the stands with continuous shouts of: Cuba, Cuba!

Both teams faced each other with a defeat in between. The Cubans lost by the minimum (0x1) against Japan on August 16, in a game in which they only allowed a hit by a pitch and silenced the batting of Musashi Fuchu.

The Australians, meanwhile, lost 1x2 to Pabao of Curacao, the Caribbean region champions, on Friday.

In brief statements on Friday night, Roberto Gonzalez, methodologist of the Cuban Baseball Federation, reiterated the team's worth and maintained his confidence that it was not all over.

This Saturday they only committed two errors, while the Australians reported seven errors. The palms went to right-hander Samuel Palencia, who was on the mound for five innings (13 strikeouts, two hits, one run scored and one walk). The opposing team's starter was Jet Creamer, who was defeated.

On Sunday, Bayamo will once again leave its heart on the field, this time against Panama.

With almost eight decades of life, the World Series counts with the presence -from the 16th to the 27th of this month- of 20 teams, 10 from the United States and other foreign teams. 

González highlighted the organization of the competition and the quality of all the participants.