MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Aruba pitcher Arnold Gismar Martha throws during Friday’s game against Panama at the Little League World Series at Volunteer Stadium. The Caribbean Regional champions had to go through and extremely tough Caribbean Region to get to South Williamsport. That included having to face Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Curacao, three countries which have extremely talented Little League teams and programs.

To say Santa Cruz, Aruba had a tough tournament at regionals to get to the Little League World Series wouldn’t even begin to do it justice.

Try a brutal schedule at the Caribbean Regional.

Cuba. The Dominican Republic. Curacao.

And despite that, Aruba still came through the regional with a 4-1 record and, more importantly, a trip to the Little League World Series.

“Aruba compared to other regions, you can’t make this stuff up. We come froma boundary that has 1,400 people, not kids. We have six Little League teams and make the tournament out of six teams, get them ready to go compete against Cuba, who I think gets free pass because they have so many kids playing baseball,” Aruba manager Arendsz said. “I like it, I like the competition. It’s good for them, they get better preppared for future competitions. If they go to college or whatever, I think it’s really good for them.”

Aruba opened the tournament at regionals with a 3-0 win over the Dominican Republic, perhaps turning some heads in their first game. Then came a 5-3 win over Cuba, another nation known for solid baseball.

Pariba was the first team at regionals to hand Aruba a loss, 8-3, in the team’s third game.

Aruba simply shook it off and rebounded with a 2-1 win against Pabao, Willemstad, Curacao in the semifinals and once again beat the Dominican Republic, this time in the championship game, 9-7.

This is just the third-ever appearance at the Series for the small island nation. After reaching the tournament in 2011, Aruba came back last year and is here once again with Arendsz once again at the helm.

“Poeple in Aruba, including myself, can’t believe it. The Caribbean is a tough region. I don’t know how many times Curacao’s been here,” Arendsz said. “This year we had Dominican Republic, Cuba and Curacao, and we still came on top. Went against Curacao in semifinals, finals against Dominican. The journey has been long, but I think we were very well structured no than we were. You should see more of us here in the future.”

In addition to Arendsz, Aruba player Diliano Raven is back for a second straight year.

“Last year I was more nervous obviously but I feel very comfortable this year because I feel like I have more experience,” the Aruba infielder said. “I’m one of the bigger guys this year and I’m definitely more calm.”

Arendsz also spoke on his time here at the Series for the first time in 2024.

“I was a coach on last year’s team and it was surreal. This is the Little League World Series, you just hear about it,” Arendsz said. “I never visited. I came as a coach and a touist. This year, we nknew what to get prepared for, so I think that helped us a lot.”

That preparation has Aruba against perhaps its toughest test this summer: Chinese Taipei. The Asia-Pacific Regional champions and the Caribbean Regional champions face off at Volunteer Stadium on Monday evening at 5 p.m. in what should be an outstanding contest between two very talented teams.

“We watched (their game) against Mexico. It was a really good game. I think Mexico held on pretty well and the whole thing Taiwan brings: they bring pitching, they bring power, the small game, the bunting game,” Arendsz said of Chinese Taipei. “We did scout them, I think we have what it takes to put up a really good fight against them.”

Aruba has options to throw against Chinese Taipei as well. The good news for Aruba is that they won’t have to face the dominant ace known as Lin Chin-Tse, who can reach 80 on the mound.

Aruba has pitchers Jayderick Wederfoor, Anthony Santos and Rylan Quandt available to throw.

“We just got to like see how Taiwain will react against fast balls,” Arendsz said. “If they do react well, we got guys who can throw nasty breaking pitches.”