Panama to face Nicaragua in Little League World Series opener

Panama's U-12 baseball team, representing David Doleguita, has learned its first opponent in the Little League World Series held in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The Panamanian squad will face Nicaragua in their opening game. Nicaragua earned its place in the tournament by defeating the Dominican Republic 2-1 in a decisive playoff match. Nicaragua's victory came courtesy of an Ethan Estévez double in the fifth inning, which scored the go-ahead run. Clemente Sevilla was the winning pitcher for the Latin American representative, delivering a strong performance over five and two-thirds innings, allowing only four hits and one run while striking out 12 batters. The opening match between Panama and Nicaragua is set for Friday, August 21st, at 11:00 a.m. Panamanian time (12:00 p.m. local time in Williamsport) at the Volunteer Stadium. This matchup pits two nations with a traditional baseball rivalry against each other on the world stage. The Nicaraguan team, named 'Ministerio Sobre Las Alas del Águila' from León, secured their berth by winning the Latin American Baseball Championship undefeated from July 11th to 17th in Guatemala City. They defeated Chile 3-1 in the final of that regional tournament.