Cuba win WBSC Youth Baseball5 World Cup to add to 2022 World Championship crown
15/10/2023 1 Minute Read

Cuba win WBSC Youth Baseball5 World Cup to add to 2022 World Championship crown

World No. 6 Cuba went through the tournament unbeaten, dropping only one set against Mexico during the Super Round. The silver medal for France was their first ever WBSC World Cup medal.

Baseball5 world champions Cuba added the Youth Baseball5 World Cup title to their trophy cabinet with an impressive 6-3, 2-1 win over France in the final of the WBSC Youth Baseball5 World Cup in Ankara, Türkiye on Sunday.

On a memorable final day of an unforgettable tournament, Baseball5 superpower Cuba proved too good for European champions France. Having beaten France 11-1, 7-4 during the Opening Round, world No. 6 Cuba put in a similar performance against the world No. 2 ranked side to claim the inaugural Youth Baseball5 title.

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The result comes on the back of Cuba's impressive unbeaten run during the first ever WBSC Baseball5 World Cup in Mexico City last year where they didn't drop a set on their way to becoming the first Baseball5 world champions.

The win is Cuba's 43rd gold medal in WBSC tournaments (second behind USA's 55), which is made up of 41 baseball titles and last year's Baseball5 World Cup triumph. For France, it is their first ever WBSC World Cup medal. They only lost two games all tournament, both of them to Cuba.

Earlier in the day, Mexico and hosts Türkiye played out a thriller for the bronze medal. Türkiye claimed the first set in an extra inning before Mexico fought back to win 2-3, 7-1, 4-2.

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The Youth Baseball5 World Cup awards saw Cuba's Haila Gonzalez, Jadier Ulloa and Sadian Fernandez named as the Outstanding Female Player, Outstanding Male Player and Best Coach respectively.

The All World team featured Luis Fernando Bencomo (Mexico), Ambre Brouard (France), Josue Gutierrez (Cuba), Xiaoyu Liu (China) and Mert Tekeci (Turkiye).

During the closing ceremony WBSC Treasurer and Development Commission chair Angelo Vicini said: “I look around here today, I see plenty of happy participants after what was an excellent tournament. I also see future Olympians. Looking at what we have seen this week, Baseball5 at the Youth Olympic Games in Senegal in 2026 is going to be amazing.”

The next WBSC Youth Baseball5 World Cup 2025 will be a qualifier for the Youth Olympic Games 2026.