The Curacao Goats are champions of the Curacao Professional Baseball League (CPB) and will represent the country in Serie de las Americas in Nicaragua. A big-time player who contributed to their championship run in the playoffs was right-handed relief pitcher J’Rudjeanon Isenia.
His efforts in the playoffs contributed greatly to the Goats’ unprecedented run from third seed and last place in the CPB to the top of the league.
His season in Curacao did not start well. On Jan. 17, the Goats lost to the Curacao Suns 3-2, and Isenia was credited with the loss. He allowed two walks and gave up the walk-off run to Suns third baseman Dudley Leonora.
However, that tough outing did not waver Isenia’s confidence heading into the playoffs, even with the Goats sitting in last place in the league.
In a rematch in the semi-final round against the Willemstad Cannons, Isenia closed the game and earned the save. He worked around two walks he gave up in the final inning and struck out three batters to keep the Goats’ season alive.
Then, after the crushing walk-off loss during the regular season, Isenia and his team faced the Suns again in the championship game.
Isenia came in for one inning of relief. He struck out two batters and allowed no hits and no earned runs. He was credited with the win as the Goats would go on to beat the Suns and win the championship by a score of 12-7.
Isenia played a big part in the Goats getting the CPB championship. His story, from a crushing walk-off given up during the season to leading his last-place team through the playoffs to the championship, is one that must be told.
Perhaps it is the best storyline from a single player in Curacao this January.
