Alexander Chavez’s four RBIs lift Panama over South Africa 10-1

With a four-RBI game by Alexander Chavez and an overall 12-hit production, Panama topped South Africa on Friday, 10-1, and claimed their third win of the Placement Round at the U-18 Baseball World Cup.

World No. 13 Panama now sit tied in seventh place with Brazil with 3-1 win-loss records with one Placement Round game to play on Saturday.

Moegamat Adams put South Africa in front in the top of the first inning scoring the first run of the game on a grounder to second base. Adams had reached with a single, stole second base and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt.

However, Panama tied the game in the bottom half of the inning and took control of the game, scoring 10 unanswered runs in the game.

Ismael Velazco pitched six innings, striking out three, while giving up four hits and one run. Samuel Perez struck out the side in the seventh to close the game.

On Saturday, Panama will close their participation in the U-18 Baseball World Cup against Canada while South Africa will meet Australia.