Nicaragua outscored Honduras in the final, 13-1, of the Central American Games to earn the final spot for the baseball tournament of the Central American and Caribbean Games. It's the fourth win in five editions of the Central American Baseball Games for Nicaragua.
Nicaragua wasted no time to get on the scoreboard on a groundout by former Major League Baseball (MLB) slugger Cheslor Cuthbert against starter Darlyn Francisco. They broke the score open with a five-run bottom of the third. Nicaragua got to Francisco with five hits, including doubles by center fielder Juan Montes, Cuthbert, first baseman Elian Miranda, and WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup alum Benjamin Alegria. Ronald Medrano pitched five innings to earn the win. Honduras scored in the sixth, the only run allowed by Nicaragua in the tournament.
Honduras' third baseman Lombardo Padilla earned MVP honours. Nicaragua had five players, Miranda, second baseman Elmer Reyes, Medrano and outfielders Sandy Bermudez and Isaac Benard, in the All-Tournament team
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World No. 17 Nicaragua will join No. 8 Cuba, No. 33 Curaçao, No. 9 Dominican Republic, the host and No. 61 El Salvador, No. 5 Mexico, No. 13 Puerto Rico and No. 6 Venezuela in the baseball tournament of the Central American and Caribbean Games, scheduled from 25 June to 1 July at the Parque Nacional de Pelota Saturnino Bengoa n San Salvador.
Puerto Rico is the defending champion. Baseball was on the Central American & Caribbean Games programme in the inaugural edition (1926, Mexico City) and has remained part of it throughout its history. Puerto Rico is the defending champion, but Cuba has dominated the event with 15 gold medals. Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic have three, and Venezuela and Colombia have one.
Men's and Women's softball are also on the Central American and Caribbean Games programme.
