By Leif Skodnick
World Baseball Network
Jan. 5, 2023
In the wake of violence gripping the Mexican state of Sinaloa, the Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacifico, or LAMP, has postponed the January 5 round robin playoff game between Narajeros de Hermosillo and Venados de Mazatlan.
A statement by the LAMP indicated that the game will be played at a later date, with the new date and time to be announced in the near future.
Violence erupted Thursday afternoon following the arrest by federal authorities of Ovidio Guzman, 32, in the city of Culiacan. Ovidio Guzman is the son of notorious drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, who is currently serving a life sentence at ADX Florence, a maximum security U.S. federal prison in Florence, Colo.
The younger Guzman is a prominent member of the Sinaloa Cartel who was wanted in both Mexico and the U.S., with the U.S. Government offering a $5 million reward for information leading to Ovidio Guzman’s capture.
Reuters reported that the violent response from gang members shut down the airport in Culiacan, and that local authorities had warned residents to stay indoors.
Four teams in the LAMP play in the state of Sinaloa, the Venados, Algondoneros de Guasave, Caneros de los Mochis, and the Tomateros de Culiacan. Algondoneros de Guasave plays on the road Thursday at Sultanes de Monterrey and Caneros de Mochis is on the road at Mayos de Navajoa.
Tomateros finished the regular season in last place, at 26-42, and did not qualify for the playoffs.