Just prior to the Bayamo team’s second appearance in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Little League President and CEO Stephen D. Keener and FCB president Juan Reinaldo Pérez Pardo signed an agreement that ratifies the commitment to the development of Little Leagues in the Largest of the Antilles. The affiliation extension agreement until 2025 was signed by both heads of their governing bodies within the framework of the current world series that will take place until August 27 in Pennsylvania.
“In the four years since we signed our initial agreement with the Cuban Baseball Federation, we have been continually impressed and inspired by Cuba’s commitment. “We are pleased to be able to extend our agreement and look forward to an exciting future as we continue to help in the growth of the little league game across the country and work to motivate and inspire thousands of children each year,” said Keener to the press.
With this expanded agreement, the LLWS will continue to promote youth baseball on the Island, with the hopes of extending opportunities to adolescent divisions and the possible establishment and development of Little League Softball programs in Cuba.
NEWS: Little League and the Cuban Baseball Federation have extended their relationship to 2025 ⚾️🇨🇺
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🔗 https://t.co/ye1rOyeb9P pic.twitter.com/7f7ErxSE5N— Little League (@LittleLeague) August 19, 2023
The Cuban team debuted in the event with a 1-0 defeat against Musashi Fuchu, from Tokyo, Japan. Then in the losers he defeated their counterpart from Australia (Hills, Sydney) by knockout (11-1). On Sunday they finished their first incursion in the Little League World Series by losing 3-2 to Santiago de Veraguas (Panama).
The antilleans finished with a batting average of .215 (65 AB; 15 H), swatted two doubles, a triple, a home run and drove in 13 runs made. They posted a .315 OBP, .338 SLG, walked eight and struck out 32 times. The pitchers of the young team did a great job posting a 2.12 ERA in 17 innings of work and only allowing five runs (4 earned). They issued 11 walks, struck out 28, opponents hit a measly .150 against the hurler and they also had an excellent 1.17 WHIP.
Bayamo reached the Little League World Series directly after winning the final of the III Cuban Little League Championship against Habana del Este (3-2) and finishing with an 8-2 record in the tournament. The Little League Baseball World Series (LLBWS), with 76 years of history (since 1947), takes place from August 16 to 27 and 20 teams came together, 10 from regions of the United States and the same from the rest of the world. Cuba will return next year with their representative being the team that wins the Cuban Little League national tournament.
☑️ El equipo de Bayamo que representó a Cuba en el torneo de las Pequeñas Ligas en Williamsport, Pensilvania, se reunió hoy con el conjunto de los Piratas de Pittsburgh y con el cubano Johan Oviedo, quien lanza para dicha organización.
📷 #Piratas de #Pittsburgh | #LittleLeague pic.twitter.com/gVMaVtxyeK
— Círculo de Espera (@CirculodEspera) August 23, 2023