courtesy of: The Morning News
written by: Rosalie Klein
The Senior League Baseball Latin Championships in Mexico City ended on Saturday, July 9 with Aruba’s team winning the title for the third consecutive year, and the right to return to the Senior World Championships in Bangor, Maine.
The team consists of many of the young players who won last year’s “World Series” for baseball players 16-14 years of age, and their triumph in Mexico clinched their place at this year’s event to defend their title as Senior League World Champions. Aruba earned its third consecutive title by defeating previously unbeaten Venezuela with an 8-3 victory in the final game of the Latin Division, having lost to their team in a previous match. Aruba went 3-1 in regional pool play, and then defeated Guatemala 11-0 in the semifinals. Venezuela, who was 4-0 in pool play, defeated Curacao 12-2 in their semifinal game, giving the Aruban team a chance to show their mettle against this powerhouse team one more time and bring home the victory.
Aruba is the third team to qualify for this year’s world championships; Asia Pacific champion Tanauan City, the Philippines, and Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy, winner of the Europe-Middle East-Africa regional, have also earned their places in the games, which begins Aug. 14 and run through the final game for the World Champion title on Aug. 20. Aruba is scheduled to play the opening game of the series.
The team arrived home on Sunday evening around 10:30 P.M. to be congratulated personally by Aruba’s Prime Minister Mike Eman, Minister of Finance, Environment and Utilities, Mike de Meza, and Little League District Administrator for Aruba, Elio Heronimo, along with thrilled friends and family at their returning again with the district championship title.
