The Serie De Las Americas Finals has arrived, and it will be Nicaragua vs Panama. Let’s break down both teams in this exciting final.
Nicaragua:
Nicaragua cruised through the group stage, going 4-1 and only losing to the undefeated Curacao. They would hang on in the Semi-Finals, winning 5-4 over Cuba to reach the finals. While Nicaragua as a team has been great on offense, leading the SDLA with 12 doubles, the key player for Nicaragua in the finals is Emmanuel Trujillo, who has been an extra base-hit machine the entire tournament. Seven of his nine hits have gone for extra bases, with four being home runs. Trujillo also leads the SDLA with four home runs. For Nicaragua to claim the trophy, they must continue their clutch hitting and bend but don’t break pitching to win it all.
Panama:
Last night, Panama completed the upset as they shut out the undefeated Curacao goats in one of the best games played in the entire tournament. They finished the group stage with a 2-3 record, which was good enough for the fourth seed. While their record doesn’t show it, they have been among the best-hitting teams. They are led by Joel Ruiz, who recorded 10 RBIS with just 10 hits. As a team, they have four hitters batting over .400. While their offense has been strong, their pitching has shined. In the Semi-Final game, the story was about their great starter, Enrique Jimenez, who threw seven scoreless innings against the best offense in the tournament. The key for Panama to pull off another upset will be to rely on their timely hitting and strong pitching.
Serie de Las Americas Championship Schedule and Where to Watch
Panama vs Nicaragua 7 PM EST @ National Sovereignty Stadium, Managua
You can watch it on the YouTube!
