Panama will face Argentina in the Pan Am Qualifier Final on June 21. (Photo: Central Caribe Sports)
By Conor Liguori
World Baseball Network
Day five of the 2023 Pan American Games Qualifying tournament in Buenos Aires, Argentina, featured matchups between Canada and Honduras, and Panama and Argentina. Each game of the Pan American Games Qualifying tournament is seven innings, barring extra innings if necessary.
Panama and Argentina are now the two remaining countries in the tournament after the conclusion of both games on Tuesday. Both nations are seeking to earn a ticket to the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile. All games at the Pan American Games Qualifying tournament will be held at Ezeiza National Baseball Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The Pan American Games Qualifying tournament will run from June 16 to June 21, with the winner of the finals advancing to the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile.
Canada Defeats Honduras 10-0
Canada, the No. 13 ranked country in the World Baseball Rankings, defeated No. 43 Honduras on Tuesday 10-0 in five innings to improve to 3-1. Honduras fell to 0-4. The game was called early due to the mercy rule.
Michael Crouse homered to deep left field in the bottom of the second to open the scoring for Canada, giving them a 1-0 lead.
Canada broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth, scoring eight runs in the inning. Of the eight runs, only three were scored on hits; a two-run single from Jake Sanford, and a RBI single from Connor Pannas. Three of the remaining five runs in the inning scored on two fielding errors from the Honduras’ infield. Jordan Procyshen drew a bases loaded walk to bring home the seventh run, and Michael Crouse’s sacrifice fly brought home the eighth to give Canada a 9-0 lead headed to the top of the fifth.
Jake Sanford hit his second RBI single of the game in the bottom of the fifth to extend Canadas’ lead to 10-0, and end the game due to mercy rule.
Canada’ starting pitcher Travis Seabrooke pitched all five innings, and gave up just two hits while striking out five. He threw 40 of his 53 pitches for strikes.
Honduras’ starting pitcher Guillermo Sabillon gave up four earned runs on three hits in three innings, walked three, and struck out two.
Canada finishes the Pan Am Qualifier tournament with a win-loss record of 3-1. Honduras finishes the Pan Am Qualifier tournament with a win-loss record of 0-4. Both countries have been eliminated from final contention.
Panama Defeats Argentina 7-2
Panama, the No. 14 ranked country in the World Baseball Rankings, defeated No. 29 Argentina 7-2 in seven innings to improve to 3-1. This was the first loss of the tournament for Argentina, falling to 3-1.
Panama took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a throwing error from Argentina’ shortstop Agustin Tissera. Edgar Munoz scored on the play from third base for Panama. Jhadiel Santamaria hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third, and Panama led 2-0.
Panama’ center fielder Johnny Santos gave his team a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth with a deep solo home run to left field, and Edgar Munoz’s RBI single to left field turned into two runs on another throwing error from Argentinas’ defense trying to nab Jason Patterson at third base. Panama led 5-0 until the top of the sixth.
Argentina’ first basemen Jacinto Cipriota doubled to deep center field to cut the lead to 5-1 in the top of the sixth, and he came in to score on a throwing error from Panamas’ third basemen Enoc Watts. Panama scored two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning on RBI doubles from Gertrudis Tello and Edgar Munoz to take a 7-2 lead.
Severino Gonzalez recorded the final four outs out of the bullpen for Panama, and sent his team to the Pan Am Qualifying tournament final.