The Dominican Republic outscored Colombia, 17-4, in the final of the Lima 2019 Pan American Games Qualifier.
The qualifier to the major multi-sport event was hosted by the Confederation of Brazilian Baseball and Softball in Sao Paulo and Ibiuna, Brasil.
The final was a one-sided affair, as the Dominicans jumped to an early 7-0 lead after three innings and made it 13-0 before Colombia could score a run.
The battle for bronze was tighter however, with Nicaragua defeating Canada, 14-12, in 10 innings. The game was dominated by offense as the two line-ups combined for 32 hits. Canada committed seven defensive errors and blew a bases-loaded opportunity in the bottom of the tenth with Michael Saunders, a slugger who played 775 games (2009-2017) in Major League Baseball with Seattle, Toronto and Philadelphia.
Canada also fell in the extra innings in the semi-final, losing 10-7 against the Dominican Republic.
Colombia narrowly defeated Nicaragua, 5-4, in the other semi-final.
Garabez Rosa, who played 127 games at Triple A Norfolk for the Baltimore Orioles in 2018, earned MVP honors. Rosa had also the most home runs and runs batted in and made the All-Tournament team as outfielder.
Road to Lima 2019
Finishing among the top four in the standings, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Nicaragua and Canada all qualified for the 2019 Lima Pan American Games, which will be played from 27 July to 4 August.
The eight-team baseball tournament will also feature the hosts Peru, Puerto Rico (2018 Central American and Caribbean Games champion), Cuba (2018 Central American and Caribbean Games runner up) and Argentina (2018 South America Qualifier winner). Canada are the two-time defending Pan-Am champions.
The top two finishers in Lima, not including National Teams from the Americas participating in the Premier12, will advance to the Americas Olympic Qualifier, to be staged in Arizona (USA) in March 2020.
Pan American Qualifier Final Standings
- Dominican Republic
- Colombia
- Nicaragua
- Canada
- Mexico
- Panama
- Brazil
Pan Am Qualifier official website
Related: Tournament presentation
