The International Sports Press Association (AIPS) America recognised the Nicaragua U-23 National Baseball Team with the “Team of the Year” in the continent, as part of the AIPS America Awards 2020.
Nicaragua went undefeated in the Americas Qualifier of the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup 2020 to be crowned continental champions, edging Cuba 1-0 in the final. The election is made with the vote of the organisation’s members.
Nicaragua, ranked 15th in the WBSC Men's Baseball World Rankings, advanced to the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup, which will take place from 24 September to 3 October this year, along with Cuba and Venezuela from the Americas Qualifier, held in Nicaragua and Honduras in February 2020. They will join Mexico (host) as the representatives from the Americas in the battle For the Title of World Champion.
The U-23 Pan American baseball champion team beat the Los Angeles Lakers and the Brazil National Football Team in the voting. Basketball super-star LeBron James was named “Male Athlete of the Year” in the American continent, while Venezuelan athlete Yulimar Rojas received the “Female Athlete of the Year” award.
In all, journalists from 22 countries participated in the election of the AIPS America Awards 2020: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, Peru, Dominican Republic, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela.
