Achurra and Vigil lead Panama to snatch 10-4 win over Czechia

Abdel Vigil and Isaac Achurra combined six hits and seven RBIs, helping World No. 14 Panama beat No. 16 Czechia 10-4 on Tuesday in the Opening Round of the VII WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup.

The Panamanians did not need to warm up too much to earn their first run in the game. Achurra singled through the left side, reached the second on a stolen base, and scored on a defensive error.

Panama continued with Vigil’s two-RBI double to left centre, and Achurra’s single through the left field drove in Vigil’s run, extending the lead to 4-0.

Into the third, Vigil hit a two-RBI double to left centre again, and Achurra followed with another two-run double through the left side.

Despite trailing 8-0, The Czechs did not give up. Oliver Slenc led off the bottom of the fifth with a single up the middle. Tadeas Klimes' single through the left side helped him reach the second. Slenc would score the first of Czechia's four runs.

Panama reacted in the top of the sixth and scored two insurance runs on a base hit by Carlos Aragona and a double by Manuel Maclao.

Panama reliever Elian Gordon pitched the last 1.2 innings, striking out two and allowing one hit.

Panama are now 2-2, and Czechia trail at 1-3. Panama will finish Group B play against World No. 10 Dominican Republic at 11.00 local time, while Czechia will play No. 2 USA at 14.30.