Venezuela staging Mini-Baseball National Championship for 3 to 4-Year-Olds!

23/11/2016

The III Venezuelan Mini-Baseball (3- to 4-years-old) Championship 2016 is bringing together 135 young boys and girls, who are representing nine states. The national competition began on 19 November and the Finals are being held today.

BARQUISMETO, Lara, Venezuela – The III Venezuelan Mini-Baseball (3- to 4-years-old) Championship 2016 is bringing together 135 young boys and girls, who are representing nine states. The national competition began on 19 November and the Finals are being held today.

The “pre-baseball” youth competition, played with batting tees, is the absolute first point of entry into organised baseball in Venezuela – and likely one of the only formal sports competitions in the world in this age category.

The nation has quickly embraced the new baseball competition. The Venezuelan Baseball Federation first established the U-4 competition in 2014, with seven states officially forming/sending teams, with the State of Lara wining the inaugural championship.

The U-4 national competition has steadily expanded each year since being launched.

“We have 23 states in Venezuela,” a Venezuelan baseball official said, “and the early success and popularity of this event — and support from the State governments — where almost half the country is playing baseball formally at this age is amazing.”

Baseball is Venezuela’s most popular sport, and the South American nation is ranked No. 7 in the world by WBSC.

U-4 FINALS:

  • National Championship Game: Lara State v Miranda State
  • Bronze Medal Match: Aragua State v Nueva Esparta State

A social media announcement about the U-4 Venezuelan Championship quickly gained over 1,000 likes and over 300 shares on Facebook in less than an hour.


-Photos: Tibaldo Hernandez/FotoSport Maracay