WBSC to offer prize money with launch of new 5-on-5 Baseball5 Americas Open in Colombia

WBSC to offer prize money with launch of new 5-on-5 Baseball5 Americas Open in Colombia
16/04/2019

The first-ever World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Baseball5 Americas Open will be launched this Thursday (18 April) in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, with $US 8,000 in total prize money awarded.

Inaugural event of the professional Baseball5 tour to be aired and live-streamed

CARTAGENA DE INDIAS, Colombia — The first-ever World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Baseball5 Americas Open will be launched this Thursday (18 April) in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, with $US 8,000 in total prize money awarded.

The launch event of the new Baseball5 pro circuit is being hosted by the Colombian Softball Federation and will include mixed teams from six nations, including host Colombia, Cuba, Guatemala, Panama, Puerto Rico and Venezuela, with eight-player rosters.

Broadcast rights for the inaugural Baseball5 Americas Open were awarded to CTC Cartagena and with TV stations from Cuba and Venezuela also broadcasting the event live.

The competition will take place on a temporary venue at the iconic beach of Playa Bocagrande, El Bony, with an all-branded urban Baseball5 court made of polypropylene sports flooring.

The Opening round schedule will be decided during a draw set to take place tomorrow, 17 April. Following the 15-game round robin stage, the last 2 teams will be eliminated with the third and fourth placed competing for the third place and first and second facing each other in the championship game.

At the press conference in the host city to announce the launch of the new WBSC Baseball5 continental event,  over 50 members of the media attended with the event getting extensive attention on local media outlets.

WBSC, as the world governing body, is taking measures to have baseball and softball played everywhere : on the streets and at the beach, in order to connect with younger audiences and drive new generations to both play and follow our game,” said WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari. “The launch of the WBSC Baseball5 Americas Open is major step toward growing the game globally and expanding the reach and appeal of the traditional game of baseball and softball.”

Every match, both during the round robin and the medal round, will consist of a three-game series, with each game played over five innings. On the last afternoon the first two teams ranked will play for the first prize while the bronze will be contested between the third and the fourth ranked.