Panama and Venezuela share the gold in the U15 qualifier

(Press Release; WBSC-AMERICAS).- The U15 qualifier in Venezuela ended crowning both Panama and Venezuela as champions of the event as rain fell over José Bernardo Pérez stadium in Valencia.Venezuela opened with a five run first inning but Panama answered with two in the bottom of the frame. Game was stopped in the bottom of the second with Panama batting and later canceled when it appeared it could restart, because of the return of the rain.

Rain came to stay so there was no other choice than to cancel the game and declare both Panama and Venezuela as champions of the tournament. Something that has happened before in 2015 to be exact.

The United States and the Dominican Republic also shared the championship and the gold medal in 2015 when rain came to cancel the finals in Cartagena, Colombia.

For both Panama and Venezuela it is their first championship in this event, and the first time a team different from the United States wins the event since 2015.

Cuba ended up third and with the bronze medal and the three teams in the podium will be joined by Puerto Rico and Colombia as the nations that will represent America in the U15 World Cup that will also feature the host nation Mexico.

Duen to rain, the award ceremony was moved from the stadium to the hotel where the different national teams were. Teams, players, coaching staff and delegates received thei respective medals and awards.This five teams will see each other again in the U15 World Cup to be held at the end of august in Mexico and battle to be crowned as the best in the World.

(WBSC-AMERICAS; Direction of Media Relations)