For the second time in the 69-year history of the Little League Baseball®, Cardenales Little League from Barquisimeto, Venezuela will be representing the Latin American Region in South Williamsport, Pa., this summer. Cardenales Little League defeated Activo 20-30 Little League from Santiago, Panama, on Saturday, July 18, 5-0, winning its way to the 2015 Little League Baseball® World Series. Seven teams took part in the seven-day event held in Panama City, Panama.
This is the 18th time that a team from Venezuela has won its way to Williamsport. Last year, a team from Coquivacoa Little League from Maracaibo competed in the Little League Baseball World Series. This makes it the third time that Venezuelan teams have competed in back to back World Series tournaments, accomplishing the feat in 1985 and 1986 and in 2006, 2007, 2008, with Cardenales Little League representing the Latin American region in 2006. That year, Cardenales Little League finished with a 3 and 1 record, falling to the Mexico Region Champion in the International Semifinal Game. Teams from Venezuela have won the Little League Baseball World Series twice, in 1994, featuring San Francisco Giants pitcher Yusmeiro Petit, and in 2000.
Cardenales Little League finished the Latin America Region Tournament with an 8 and 1 record, and outscored opponents 77 to 13. Click here to learn more about the Latin America Region Tournament.
The Latin America Region Champion will face off against the Australia Region Champion in the first round of the Little League Baseball World Series on Thursday, Aug. 20, at 5 p.m., at Volunteer Stadium. Cronulla Little League from Sydney, Australia won the Australia Region Championship on Tuesday, June 9. For more information on the Australia Region Tournament, click here. Over the course of 10 days, 32 games will be played in the Little League Baseball World Series, concluding with the Little League Baseball World Series Championship Game, which is scheduled for 3 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 30.