Cuba has won the 26th edition of the “Haarlemse Honkbalweek”. They won the title at the international tournament with a 4-2 victory over Puerto Rico in the championship game on Sunday. Team USA (Collegiate) finished in third place after a 4-3 win over IBAF Baseball World Champion Netherlands in the Bronze Medal Game at Pim Mulier Stadium in Haarlem, Netherlands.
Record world champion Cuba had struggled during the preliminary round, winning only three of the five first round games. But after a prevailing in the semi-finals over Team USA and against Puerto Rico in the finals they came out on top after all.
Puerto Rico had edged out the Dutch team in the second semi-final. They were the favorite going into the championship game, having won all games in tournament so far. Chinese Taipei and Japan also participated in the Haarlem Baseball Week.
Final Standings:
1) Cuba
2) Puerto Rico
3) USA
4) Netherlands
5) Japan
6) Chinese Taipei
Individual Awards:
Best hitter: Michael Duursma (NED)
Best pitcher: Marco Gonzalez (USA)
Press award: Ariel Pestano (CUB)
Homerun king: Yoshiki Eto (JPN)
Best defensive player: D.J. Peterson (USA)
Most popular player (Carl Angelo award): Hsiao Po Ting (TPE)
Most valuable player (Jacques Reuvers award): Yulieski Gourriel (CUB)
