Meet Hermosillo: Home of the fifth WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup

Hermosillo will host the V WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup, which opens this Friday, August 26.

Chinese Taipei, Cuba, Czech Republic, Mexico, Colombia, France, Japan, Panama, Guam, Puerto Rico, South Africa, USA and Venezuela will be divided into three groups and play at the Hector Espino and Sonora stadiums in Hermosillo, one of Mexico’s baseball capitals.

The city of Hermosillo was founded in 1700 by Juan Bautista Escalante and since 1879 has been the capital of the state of Sonora. The population is close to one million and it is considered one of Mexico's best cities to live in.

The stadiums are part of the baseball history in Mexico and the region. The Hector Espino was rebuilt and will open for the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup. This was Naranjeros' home from 1972 until 2013 and hosted several MLB exhibition games.

Naranjeros is the most successful team in the Mexican Winter League with 16 pennants. Mexican baseball greats such as Hector Espino, Fernando Valenzuela and Vinicio Castilla wore the Naranjeros' uniform.

Hermosillo celebrates its foundation every April with the traditional Fiestas de Pitic. Several national and international artists are present in different city venues during this holiday.

Also, the city counts with Bahia de Kino just 100 kilometers away from the downtown. A huge bay where the desert and the sea meet. Maybe the most beautiful natural attraction near Hermosillo.

Some notable people from the city are Jesus Garcia Corona, the hero of Nacozari, the singer Luis Aguilar, Bill Melendez film director, baseball players like Erubiel Durazo, Elmer Dessens, Francisco Barrios and Luis Gonzalez and most recently the singers Yuridia and Yahir.

Hermosillo will crown baseball's new (or defending) U-15 World Champions on September 4th