(Press Release; WBSC-AMERICAS).- The U15 qualifier in Venezuela brought us an exciting game for the last spot in the World Cup between Colombia and the Dominican Republic, and a bronze medal game that Cuba dominated over Puerto Rico.
The last spot in the World Cup was up for grabs and Colombia met the Dominican Republic in a back-and-forth classic duel between two nations playing with pride for the ticket to México.
The first four innings between Colombia and the Dominican Republic had the two nations battling in a classic game of baseball. Finally in the sixth inning the Dominicans took the lead and added one more in the seventh to take a 9-7 lead to the bottom of the frame.
But immediately Colombia loaded the bases with no outs with three walks to set the table for Samuel Arroyo who hit a bases clearing double to left that sent the south American nation to the World Cup with a 10-9 victory.
After Colombia celebrated their World Cup berth, the bronze medal game took place and Cuba dominated Puerto Rico to take home the prize.
From the first inning it was clear that Cuba had only one thing in mind, they answered their rivals first run by scoring six in the bottom of the frame and immediately took control of the game.
Cuba´s bats stayed quiet until the bottom of the fifth inning, they scored four runs and had the bases loaded, the KO run on third and Alejandro Cruz grounded into a fielder’s choice that was enough to score the winning run for the victory 11-1.
The five spots to the World Cup are set and the bronze medal goes to Cuba, on Sunday at 1pm Venezuela and Panama will play for the gold and the championship in Valencia, Venezuela.
(WBSC-AMERICAS; Direction of Media Relations)
