Cuba loses to Venezuela at U15 Pan American Baseball Cup

Cuban U15 team participating at the Pan American Championship in Boca Chica, Dominican Republic, lost today 10-11 to Venezuela in the match closed yesterday by darkness.

After the resumed with a seven-all tie in the eighth inning, Cubans scored three runs that seemed to be enough for the victory, but the South Americans stepped on the baseboard four times and won the game.

The setback complicates Cuban team's options to reach one of the five spots offered by the tournament to the World Championship, forcing them to win in the two remaining challenges to keep their hopes alive.

On the same day, the Cubans will face the weak Guatemala to conclude the qualifying phase.

According to the official website of the World Baseball and Softball Confederation of America, in this key Puerto Rico and Venezuela are undefeated with 3-0, followed by Nicaragua (2-1), Cuba (1-2) and Guatemala and Peru (0-3).

In the other bracket, Dominican Republic leads with 3-0, Brazil and Mexico have 2-1, Panama and Bahamas 1-2 and Argentina 0-3.

The first of each group will play for the gold medal, the second for the bronze and the third will play a match to define the last ticket to the world championship.