Panama Oeste and Chiriquí Occidente Lead U23 Baseball Semifinals

The U23 National Baseball Championship semifinals kicked off with Panama Oeste and Chiriquí Occidente establishing early leads in their respective series. Both teams secured crucial opening game victories, putting them one step closer to the championship final.

In a closely contested match at Rod Carew Stadium, Panama Oeste, known as the 'Vaqueros,' edged out Panama Metro with a 2-1 score. The Western team opened the scoring in the fourth inning and extended their lead in the seventh. Metro managed to score a single run in the eighth inning, but it wasn't enough to overcome Oeste's defense. Carlos Dias earned the win for Panama Oeste, pitching eight strong innings, while Michael Worthington was a standout at the plate with two hits.

Meanwhile, Chiriquí Occidente showcased a powerful offensive performance, defeating Coclé 10-1 at the Mariano Rivera Academy in La Chorrera. Chiriquí Occidente amassed 17 hits, including a significant six-run outburst in the first inning that set the tone for their victory. Jael Escobar led the offensive charge with a 4-for-5 performance, driving in a run, while Jorge Quiel secured the win on the mound.

These semifinal series are played to the best of three games. The second matchups are set to take place on Saturday, August 29th, at the same stadiums, with games scheduled to begin at 2:00 PM. The winners will advance to compete for the national championship title.