Olympic baseball qualifier gets off to electric start in Florida

Olympic baseball qualifier gets off to electric start in Florida
01/06/2021
The opening games of the WBSC Baseball Americas Qualifier generated a buzz in the press and social media.

Clover Park at Port St. Lucie and The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches were the stages today for the first day of the WBSC Baseball Americas Qualifier, marking the return of international baseball to the field since the Premier12 Championship Game. In Group A, USA and Dominican Republic won their openers, while in Group B Canada and Venezuela picked up the victory.

GROUP A

Dominican Republic defeated their Caribbean rivals, Puerto Rico, 5-2. Luis Liberato belted a go-ahead home run in the sixth inning, and Raul Valdez tossed seven quality innings to lift the Dominicans to their first win of the tournament.

USA topped Nicaragua, 7-1. Luke Williams and Jarren Duran combined for six hits out of the top two spots in the US batting order, and Mark Kolosvery homered for the winner. Nicaragua’s only run of the game was produced by Benjamin Alegria, with an RBI fielder’s choice.

USA and Dominican Republic, the two winners in Group A’s opener, will face off tomorrow at 7 pm. Nicaragua will take on Puerto Rico at 1 pm. Both games will be held at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.

GROUP B

Monday’s Group B opener was a thriller between Cuba and Venezuela. Carlos Perez hit a three-run home run in the top of the first inning and added an RBI single in the top of the third to lead Venezuela to victory. It was the first win for Venezuela over Cuba in a WBSC top category tournament since the 1953 Baseball World Cup.  

The fourth game of the day saw a combined no-hitter for Canada, in their 7-0 win over Colombia. Andrew Albers pitched a masterpiece, allowing just two base runners - both in the first inning - on a hit by pitch and a fielder’s choice in seven innings of work. The no-no was completed by Brendan McGuigan and Ben Onyshko in the last two innings.

Group B continues tomorrow at Clover Park. Venezuela will face their South American rivals Colombia at 1 pm, while Canada and Cuba will play at 7 pm.

Baseball Americas Qualifier