I guess that the Panamanian Winter League is trying to be revived. The league went belly up in 2000-2001 and has been dormant ever since. With World Cup baseball being played in Panama, all the fields have been restored and the stadiums were given a face lift. Looks like the league is going to give it another try.

Friday, October 14, 2011

The Netherlands are close to history, first loss for Cuba

Santiago de Veraguas (Panama) -

The Netherlands are pretty close to making history. After beating (4-1) Cuba, they need one win against Venezuela or a win by Cuba against Canada to be the first european team in 73 years to compete for a gold medal in the IBAF World Cup. The dutch deserved to win. Starter Orlando Yintema and relevier Leon Boyd were extremely solid on the mound and the offense beat Cuba with their own weapon: the long ball. All of the runs for The Netherlands came actually on home runs, a couple of 2 run dingers by Brian Engelhard and Kalian Sams.

Holanda derrota a Cuba

Friday, October 14, 2011

Team USA edges out Korea on Friday morning

Matt Shoemaker pitches 5 scoreless Innings in 3-1 Victory over Korea

Aguadulce, Panama.

Team USA stays in the race for the Bronze Medal Game at the 2011 IBAF Baseball World Cup.

Team USA defeated Korea 3-1 on Friday morning in the first part of the twin bill of seven-inning games at Remon Cantera Stadium in Aguadulce, Panama. In the home town of big leaguer Carlos Lee, the selection of Triple- and Double-A players scored twice in the first two innings en route to the win. Matt Shoemaker pitched five scoreless two-hit innings to lead the way. The bullpen helped to stop a Korean rally in the end.

The dethroned Baseball World Champion opened the scoring early. Brett Jackson led off the game with a single to left, stole second and crossed the plate on a single by Joe Thurston. One frame later singles by Tommy Mendonca and Jordan Danks plus a walk by Andrew Garcia loaded the bases with one out. Jackson this time drove in the run with a sac fly to right. Mendonca scored for a 2-0 lead.

After stunning the Dominican Republic and Panama with late four-run rallies, Korea tried to do the same thing to Team USA. American reliever Royce Ring, equipped with the experience of 99 appearances in Major League Baseball, was greeted with back to back hits in the bottom of the sixth to put runners on second and third and no outs.

Manager Ernie Young reacted quickly, pulled the trigger and brought in Peter Andrelczyk. The right hander from the Florida Marlins organization couldn’t keep the zero on the board, but was able to limit the damage to a run by Ji Young Lee who scored on a grounder to first. Jin Hyuk No was thrown out at the plate after a groundball to shortstop Jordy Mercer. Dong Min Han struck out on three pitches to end the frame.

Trying to avoid more drama at the end of the game, Team USA added some insurance in the seventh inning. A single and a fielding error by the shortstop brought Allan Pollock and Jordy Mercer on base with one out. After an infield fly by Joe Thurston, Matt Clark came through with a single to drive in Pollock, regaining the two-run lead and sealing the victory.

Through the first five innings, pitchers Matt Shoemaker and Jong Huen Park wrote the story of the game, battling each other on the mound. Shoemaker won thanks to issuing just two hits and a walk in his scoreless outing. Park struck out eight and was able to keep Team USA off the board after the first two innings, but was charged with the loss, giving up two runs on five hits and four free passes.

Team USA will be back on the field at 3.30pm local time to take on Venezuela in a make-up game of Wednesday’s rainout. Korea will play in one of the classification games on Saturday.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Netherlands first Team in Baseball World Cup Final

Cuba or Canada to be Opponent – Decision on Friday

Aguadulce, Panama.

With one day left on the schedule of the second round, the first team clinched a spot in the 2011 IBAF Baseball World Cup Final. The Netherlands surprised Cuba and handed the record champion its first loss in the tournament. The Dutch team will play for Gold for the first time in history. Only two more teams have the chance to reach the finals.

And they will play it out on Friday. Cuba and Canada remain in the race with the winner of their matchup to join the Netherlands in the finals. Canada had celebrated a pair of shutouts on Thursday to keep hopes alive. Panama on the other hand is out for the Gold Medal. They dropped a tight contest to Korea in the evening.

Canada 7 – Venezuela 0

Recap

After Wednesday’s rainouts at the 2011 IBAF Baseball World Cup, action on the field resumed with a matchup between Canada and Venezuela at Remon Cantera Stadium in Aguadulce, Panama. The Maple Leafs had no trouble and scored seven runs in the first two innings for a 7-0 win. Brock Kjeldgaard hit a two-run homerun. Emerson Frostad and Tim Smith drove in four more with a pair of extra base hits. Kyle Lotzkar pitched five scoreless innings for the win.

USA 2 – Australia 1

Recap

At the end of a fancy pitching duel between left handed prospects Drew Smyly (Tigers) and Clayton Tanner (Reds), Team USA beat Australia (2-1). The fact the game was set to seven innings only leaves Australia with some regret. The Aussies scored in the seventh and the inning ended when third baseman Wearne lined into a game ending double play with the tying run on base.

Netherlands 2 – Australia 1

Recap

In a game that started on Wednesday at 2 pm and resumed on Thursday at 3.30 pm, The Netherlands beat Australia (2-1) and now they are one win away from a final that would be a milestone in international baseball, since the Dutch would be the first European team to accomplish such a goal. Australia spoiled a great start by Dushan Ruzic as reliever Andrew Russell took the mound when the game resumed and immediately got into trouble hitting Curt Smith, allowing a base hit to Bryan Engelhardt and advancing the runners on a bad pickoff attempt. The call to Brendan Wise was made definitely too late. Shairon Schoop imitates his brother Jonathan and bats in the winning run for the Dutch.

Canada 4 – Korea 0

Recap

Canada completed a doubleheader sweep on Thursday with a 4-0 win over Korea. Instead of scoring in the beginning as in the shutout against Venezuela, the team of manager Ernie Whitt relied on the fifth inning to decide the outcome besides another strong pitching effort. The Maple Leafs improved to 4-2 in the second round and keep on track for the medal round. A pair of RBI singles and a pair of errors during the big frame helped in the process. The game was delayed for 75 minutes in the bottom of the first inning due to rain.

Panama 4 – Korea 5

Recap

Korea stunned Panama with a 5-4 comeback win on Friday evening, ending the host’s hopes for a Gold Medal opportunity. The Olympic champion turned around a 1-3 deficit with a four-run rally in the top of the sixth inning. Panama tried to rally in the end, but a flyout ended the game with runners at the corners. Jose Macias and Fernando Seguinol went deep for the home team, Yi Young Lee for the guests from Asia. The game was delayed twice due to rain.

Cuba 1 – Netherlands 4

Recap

The Netherlands are making history. After beating (4-1) Cuba, becoming the first European team in 73 years to compete for a Gold Medal in the IBAF Baseball World Cup. The Dutch deserved to win. Starter Orlando Yntema and reliever Leon Boyd were extremely solid on the mound and the offense beat Cuba with their own weapon: the long ball. All of the runs for the Netherlands came actually on home runs, a couple of two-run homeruns by Brian Engelhardt and Kalian Sams.

2nd Round Standings

1) Netherlands 5-1
2) Cuba 4-1
3) Canada 4-2
4) USA 2-3
5) Panama 2-3
6) Korea 2-4
7) Australia 2-4
8) Venezuela 1-4

Outlook

The second round at the 2011 IBAF Baseball World Cup is coming to an end on Friday. The main focus will be on the game between Cuba and Canada at Rod Carew Stadium in Panama City. However, the race for the Bronze Medal Game is interesting as well with several teams still having a shot to make it. Three games apiece are scheduled for the stadiums in Panama City and Aguadulce. Cuba, Panama, Venezuela and USA will have to play doubleheaders, as a result of Wednesday’s rainouts. All games are set for seven innings each.

Schedule, Friday, October 14

11h00 Korea – USA (Aguadulce)
11h00 Panama – Australia (Panama City)
15h30 Venezuela – USA (Aguadulce)
15h30 Canada – Cuba (Panama City)
19h30 Cuba – Panama (Panama City)
19h30 Venezuela – Netherlands (Aguadulce)
(local times Panama)

Milledge doubles twice in Aragua win

Major League veteran drives in a run, scores another

Venezuelan Winter League

Aragua 5, Margarita 1

Major League veteran and White Sox farmhand Lastings Milledge smacked a pair of doubles, driving in a run and scoring once for Aragua. The 26-year-old outfielder spent all but two games this year with Triple-A Charlotte, where he hit .295 with 12 homers. Red Sox catching prospect Ryan Lavarnway got on base three times for Margarita, smacking a double and walking twice. Toronto Minor Leaguer Yohan Pino picked up the win by striking out three over two scoreless innings.

Magallanes 13, Zulia 4

Nationals catcher Jesus Flores finished a triple shy of the cycle, plating three runs and scoring twice in the victory. Tigers infield prospect Argenis Diaz (contributed three hits, three runs and two RBIs while Darwin Perez (Tigers) added three hits, two RBIs and two runs for the Navegantes. Yankees prospect Jose Pirela went 4-for-4 in the losing effort.

La Guaira 4, Caribes 3

Major League veteran Oscar Salazar hit a solo homer, while fellow veteran Gregor Blanco and Yankees farmhand Terry Tiffee also drove in runs for the Tiburones. Former Dodgers Minor League Heath Totten allowed one run on three hits over five innings en route to the win. Box score

Caracas 5, Lara 4

Rays farmhand Daniel Mayora went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run for the Leones. Teammates Raul Padron and Ronald Bermudez -- who play in the A's and Red Sox's Minor League systems -- combined to go 4-for-8 with three runs scored. Houston farmhand Oswaldo Navarro went 2-for-4 with two RBIs for the Cardenales.

Milledge is a free agent.

Aragua leads Margarita 8-4 top of the 7th. In a tie ball game Robert Bryson comes on in the 6th and surrenders 4 runs to the Tigres. Bryson's line looks rather ugly. In 2/3 of an inning, 2 hits (one of them a homer), 3 walks, 0 strikeouts, and 4 unearned runs. The homer came of the bat of Vinny Rottino, a 2-out, 3 run blast. Unless the Bravos can come up with a bunch of runs the next 3 innings, Bryson stands to lose this game.

Caracas hit Lara early and often scoring 8 in the first and single runs in the second and third innings. In 4 trips to the plate, Luis Valbuena was hitless. End of 8, 10-2 Caracas.

Escogido leads Licey in the 8th inning by a score of 4-2. Jerad Head has a double and a run scored in 3 at bats.

In the top of the 8th inning and runners on first and second, two out, 4-2 ball game, Jerad Head singled to drive home the second run of the inning. Runners are at the corners with 2 out and its now a 4-3 ballgame.

Jerad Head was forced out at second ending the half inning.

Last weekend of the camping season. I'll shut down the library shortly and pick up the posts on Sunday.

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Cuba joins Netherlands in Baseball World Cup Final

Championship Game at 5pm on Saturday - Canada meets with USA for Bronze Medal

Panama City, Panama.

Cuba is playing the Netherlands in the Gold Medal Game of the 2011 IBAF Baseball World Cup on Saturday, October 15 starting 5pm local time at Rod Carew Stadium in Panama City. Cuba defeated Canada on Friday afternoon to reach the championship game. The Dutch team had clinched the finals on Thursday. Canada has to settle for the game for third place, where they will face Team USA, which swept a doubleheader thanks to a thrilling comeback win over Venezuela. Tournament host Panama lost twice and has to look from the outside.

Korea 1 – USA 3

Recap

Team USA stays in the race for the Bronze Medal Game at the 2011 IBAF Baseball World Cup. They defeated Korea 3-1 on Friday morning in the first part of the twin bill of seven-inning games at Remon Cantera Stadium in Aguadulce, Panama. In the home town of big leaguer Carlos Lee, the selection of Triple- and Double-A players scored twice in the first two innings en route to the win. Matt Shoemaker pitched five scoreless two-hit innings to lead the way. The bullpen helped to stop a Korean rally in the end.

Panama 4 – Australia 5

Recap

Australia wins in an extra eighth inning (5-4) the game against Panama. The win won't help the Aussies advance to the third place game in any case, but it was a good way to end a tournament that was off a very poor start for Jon Deeble's side, but showed the team of Down Under has plenty of talent. In particular, this game was highlighted by 23 year old first baseman Stefan Welch at bat. The Mets' Minor Leaguer went 3 for 5 and batted in four out of five runs his team scored. Left hander Steven Kent took the mound as the third pitcher for Australia and earned the win.

Venezuela 4 – USA 7

Recap

Team USA will play for the consolation prize, as they reached the Bronze Medal Game at the 2011 IBAF Baseball World Cup with a spirited 7-4 comeback win over arch rival Venezuela on Friday afternoon in Aguadulce, Panama. It was their second victory of the day after taking down Korea in the morning. A six-run rally in the top of the seventh helped them to turn a 1-4 deficit into a “W”, as they improve to 4-3 in the second round. Matt Clark tied the game with a two-run single. Jordy Mercer had the game-winning hit with a three-run homerun. Wuilliuans Vasquez (2) and Rodolfo Cardona had hit three solo homeruns to give Venezuela the lead early on.

Canada 2 – Cuba 8

Recap

Cuba displayed a great show of power for the win (8-2) they needed against Canada, in order to head towards Saturday's Gold Medal game of the IBAF Baseball World Cup. For the North Americans there was not a chance. Cuba was off an impressive start, combining four hits (including two doubles and a triple) in the first five at bats and scoring three runs. In the end, scorekeepers counted fifteen Cuban hits, six for the extra base. Jadier Pedroso collected the win.

Cuba 7 – Panama 2

Recap

Cuba overcame an early 0-2 deficit to beat Panama 7-2, taking charge with a five-run rally in the bottom half of the third inning. A two-run triple by Alexei Bell set the tone on a rainy Friday night at Rod Carew Stadium in Panama City. The right fielder later scored and added another RBI to blow the score open. Cuba improved to 6-1 in the second round, while Panama dropped to 2-5.

Venezuela 2 – Netherlands 12

Recap

Team Netherlands’ rush did not stop in the last game before the Baseball World Cup finals, against Venezuela. The Europeans hit constantly and for power, but the Venezuelans supported them delivering their worst defensive performance of the tournament. Besides, Dutch starter Arshwin Asjes pitched five three-hit shutout innings before giving up two runs in the sixth. The game ended with a score of 12-2 for the Orange.

2nd Round Standings

1) Netherlands 6-1
2) Cuba 6-1
3) Canada 4-3
4) USA 4-3
5) Australia 3-4
6) Korea 2-5
7) Panama 2-5
8) Venezuela 1-6

Outlook

All eyes on Sunday will be on the Gold Medal Game between the Netherlands and Cuba at 5pm at Rod Carew Stadium in Panama City. The Dutch team never even won a medal with fourth place in 2005 and 2007 being the best finish in their history. Now they have already silver secured, but want to get the big prize against the record title holder, who has collected 25 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze in 38 years of Baseball World Cup history. Earlier in the day the classification games will take place, including a matchup between Team USA and Canada for third place. Also Korea is battling Australia for fifth and Panama is trying to pick up seventh against Venezuela.

Schedule

11h00 Game for 7th: Panama – Venezuela (Aguadulce)
11h00 Game for 5th: Australia – Korea (Santiago)
11h00 Game for 3rd: Canada – USA (Panama City)
17h00 Championship Game: Netherlands – Cuba (Panama City)

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Game for 3rd between Team USA and Canada canceled

Severe weather conditions forced the IBAF TC to cancel the game

The third place game of the IBAF World Cup was cancelled. The game was originally scheduled at 11 o'clock local time, but the starting time was pushed, until the IBAF Technical Commission decided to cancel it. The conditions of the field were not considered good enough to play two games of the importance of bronze and gold medal finals of a World Cup in a matter of hours.

A decision is still pending about the criteria to assign the bronze medal.