Box Score
VERACRUZ, Mexico – World No. 3 Cuba regained the title as the Central American and Caribbean Games (CACG) champions, defeating No. 18 Nicaragua, 9-3, before a packed Beto Avila Stadium.
Hard-throwing Yaisel Sierra highlighted Cuba’s gold medal victory, topping 96 mph with his fastball, as Cuba finished with a perfect 5-0 record in Veracruz to capture their 15th CACG baseball title in 18 attempts.
Cuba’s national selection consisted of professionals granted authorisation under new reforms by Cuban authorities that allow players to play in Japan. Alfredo Despaigne, Frederich Cepeda and Yulieski Gourriel all returned in honour of and service to the Cuban National Baseball Team, after having competed this season for their pro clubs in one of the world’s most competitive, best-attended and lucrative sporting leagues, Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
In the bronze medal match, defending CACG champions Dominican Republic defeated Puerto Rico, 8-1.
The 20-game CACG international baseball tournament in Veracruz marked the conclusion of the 2014 international baseball calendar.
Mexico’s 5th-place finish will advance them to 12th in the world (from 14th) when the IBAF Final 2014 World Rankings are calculated, surpassing Australia and Panama for last remaining spot in first-ever Premier 12 Pro Baseball World Championship in Taiwan in November 2015.
Nicaragua, a nation that had been ranked as low as No. 28 in the world in 2014, continue to shoot up the rankings, and will finish 2014 as the No. 16 baseball nation in the world, following the silver-medal performance in Veracruz and 4th-place finish at the 21U Baseball World Cup in Taichung, Taiwan.
The top four finishers in Veracruz also earned a ticket into the 2015 Pan-American Games in Toronto.
FINAL STANDINGS (and IBAF World Ranking points awarded)
1. Cuba (50 pts)
2. Nicaragua (40 pts)
3. Dominican Republic (30 pts)
4. Puerto Rico (15 pts)
5. Mexico (11.5 pts)
6. Venezuela (8 pts)
7. Panama (4.5 pts)
8. Guatemala (1 point)
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