MAZATLAN, Mexico — Nicaragua defeated USA 5-4 in the championship game of the U-12 (11-12 years) Pan-American Championship Sunday night at the Benito Juarez Sports Complex in Mazatlan.
Down to their final out in the 7th inning, USA took a 4-3 lead in the top of the seventh inning when they launched a three-run home run to left field.
In the bottom of the 7th, two throwing errors by USA allowed Nicaragua to score two runs and capture the honor of the best 12U National Team in the Americas.
It was the second time in the tournament that Nicaragua defeated the U.S.
Nicaragua is currently ranked No. 18 in the world, while USA is ranked No. 1.
In the bronze medal match, No. 10 Venezuela defeated No. 12 Mexico 3-0.
The top four nations qualified for the 2015 WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup in Taiwan.
Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama also sent U-12 National Teams to the Americas Championship.
In 2013, USA sent their first National Team to the 2013 U-12 Baseball World Cup in Taipei City, Taiwan, and defeated the host nation to win the world championship.
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