PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico — USA topped Panama 3-1 on Sunday in the final of the 2019 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-15 Baseball World Cup Americas Qualifier, avenging an earlier loss to Panama in the Super Round.
USA starting pitcher Luis Rodriguez earned the win and was named the tournament Most Valuable Player.
The U.S. finished with an 8-1 record on the road to winning their fourth-straight U-15 Pan Am Championship, which serves as a qualifier into the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup.
“We knew [Panama] had really good team, “U.S. manager Troy Cameron said. “We had a hunch that it could end up with the two of us playing for a gold medal.”
“We got runners on base but couldn’t get the big hit,” said Panama manager Audes de Leon.
The two nations also met in the final of the 2018 WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup in David, Panama, with USA winning their first-ever world title in the age-category.
In the bronze medal game in Playa Del Carmen, Dominican Republic edged rival Cuba, 4-3.
Venezuela and Mexico finished the Pan Am championship in 5th and 6th Place, respectively.
