With a thrilling final between world No. 4 Argentina and No. 7 Venezuela, the Men's Softball Pan American Championship came to an end on Sunday in Sincelejo, Colombia. Argentina, Venezuela, No. 12 Guatemala, No. 19 Colombia and No. 20 Dominican Republic earned their tickets to the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup, which will start this summer with the group stage. Argentina repeated as Pan American Champions after a 4-3 win against Venezuela in the final.
Argentina's centre fielder Teo Migliavacca, the tournament's leading hitter with a .611 batting average, homered in the final and led his team to a nail-biting win. An RBI triple from Venezuelan designated player Carlos Villegas in the top of the seventh inning made it a one-run ball game, leaving the potential tying run on third base, with one out. However, Argentina's pitcher Nahuel Saenz retired the next two batters with a strikeout and a grounder to seal the victory for his squad.
This title represent Argentina's second consecutive Pan American crown, after winning the tournament in 2022 as hosts. This is their sixth medal in a row, with a pair of bronzes in 2006 and 2012 and a pair of silver medals in 2014 and 2017.
The Dominican Republic earned the bronze medal by defeating Guatemala, 7-0, in six innings.
With the end of this tournament, Colombia completed a successful back-to-back hosting effort with the U-18 Women's Softball Pan American Championship in Monteria, and Men's Softball Pan American Championship in Sincelejo.
"I want to thank Sincelejo's Major, Yahir Acuña, for his support to Colombian softball. And also the Sports Ministry for their commitment with this event and the U-18 Women's Softball Pan American Championship, which was a success last week in Monteria," said Eduin Diaz, Colombian Softball President. "The stadium in Sincelejo is one of the best stages at a national and Pan American level. Colombia could perfectly host a Softball World Cup in the future."
The WBSC Men's Softball World Cup will commence this year with the group stage. Group A will take place in Hermosillo, Mexico, from 12-16 June, followed by Group B in Prince Albert, Canada (10-14 July) and Group C in Oklahoma City, USA (17-21 September).
The top two teams in each group's final standings, plus two wild cards, will move to the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup Finals, to be staged in Prince Albert in July 2025.
The allocation of the Americas teams in the group stage and the final composition of the World Cup groups will be announced at a later stage.
Pan American Championship Final Standings
- Argentina
- Venezuela
- Dominican Republic
- Guatemala
- Colombia
- Cuba
- Panama
- Honduras
- Costa Rica
