Four-run sixth inning gives Nicaragua exciting win against Panama
Latin America region team celebrate their 6-4 win over Panama team during game 9 of the Little League World Series. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Giovany Urroz Chavez of the Latin America region team tags out Kaled Valdes of the Panama team to end game 9 of the Little League World Series. Latin America won 6-4. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Lucas Olmos of Panama is safe at first base on this close play during the 4th inning against Latin America during game 9 of the Little League World Series. Latin America won 6-4. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Lucas Olmos (right) gives his team mate Edwards Diaz (center) of the Panama team a hug after Diaz struck out to end the 4th inning during game 9 of the Little League World Series. Latin America won 6-4. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Jonathan Urroz Chavez of the Latin America region team scores as he collides with pitcher Josue Hernandez of the Panama team during game 9 of the Little League World Series. Latin America won 6-4. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Ianne Salcedo of the Panama team celebrates as he runs to first base on a walk that drove in a run against Latin America during game 9 of the Little League World Series. Latin America won 6-4. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Giovany Urroz Chavez of the Latin America region team tags out Kaled Valdes of the Panama team to end game 9 of the Little League World Series. Latin America won 6-4. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Pitcher Lucas Olmos of the Panama team encourages the crowd at Volunteer Stadium to cheer as he walks off the field after the end of the 4th inning against Latin America during game 9 of the Little League World Series. Latin America won 6-4. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Kendry Arauz Roque of the Latin America region team throws in the first inning against Panama team during game 9 of the Little League World Series. Latin America won 6-4. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Catcher Jose Martinez Padilla of the Latin America region team tries to throw out Lucas Olmos of the Panama team at third base during the second inning during game 9 of the Little League World Series. Latin America won 6-4. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Pitcher Kendry Arauz Roque of the Latin America region team hits the ground with his hand in disgust after he gives up a single to Jeickot Sanchez of the Panama team in the 4th inning during game 9 of the Little League World Series. Latin America won 6-4. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Jeickot Sanchez, left and Bryant Quintero of the Panama team celebrate after Sanchez scores in the 4th inning against Latin America during game 9 of the Little League World Series. Latin America won 6-4. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Jonathan Urroz Chavez of the Latin America region team falls to the ground on this play at second base as Edgar Villarreal of the Panama team is out at second base during game 9 of the Little League World Series. Latin America won 6-4. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Lusas Olmos of the Panama team throws in the first inning against Latin America during game 9 of the Little League World Series. Latin America won 6-4. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Sergio Jiron Fuentes of the Latin America region team tries to make the play as Lucas Olmos of the Panama team slides safely into second base in the second inning during game 9 of the Little League World Series. Latin America won 6-4. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Pitcher Moises Estrada Juarez of the Latin America region team fields a ball hit by Edgar Villarreat of the Panama team and throws in out at second base during game 9 of the Little League World Series. Latin America won 6-4. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Latin America region team celebrate their 6-4 win over Panama team during game 9 of the Little League World Series. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Giovany Urroz Chavez of the Latin America region team tags out Kaled Valdes of the Panama team to end game 9 of the Little League World Series. Latin America won 6-4. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Lucas Olmos of Panama is safe at first base on this close play during the 4th inning against Latin America during game 9 of the Little League World Series. Latin America won 6-4. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Lucas Olmos (right) gives his team mate Edwards Diaz (center) of the Panama team a hug after Diaz struck out to end the 4th inning during game 9 of the Little League World Series. Latin America won 6-4. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Jonathan Urroz Chavez of the Latin America region team scores as he collides with pitcher Josue Hernandez of the Panama team during game 9 of the Little League World Series. Latin America won 6-4. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Ianne Salcedo of the Panama team celebrates as he runs to first base on a walk that drove in a run against Latin America during game 9 of the Little League World Series. Latin America won 6-4. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Giovany Urroz Chavez of the Latin America region team tags out Kaled Valdes of the Panama team to end game 9 of the Little League World Series. Latin America won 6-4. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Pitcher Lucas Olmos of the Panama team encourages the crowd at Volunteer Stadium to cheer as he walks off the field after the end of the 4th inning against Latin America during game 9 of the Little League World Series. Latin America won 6-4. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Kendry Arauz Roque of the Latin America region team throws in the first inning against Panama team during game 9 of the Little League World Series. Latin America won 6-4. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Catcher Jose Martinez Padilla of the Latin America region team tries to throw out Lucas Olmos of the Panama team at third base during the second inning during game 9 of the Little League World Series. Latin America won 6-4. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Pitcher Kendry Arauz Roque of the Latin America region team hits the ground with his hand in disgust after he gives up a single to Jeickot Sanchez of the Panama team in the 4th inning during game 9 of the Little League World Series. Latin America won 6-4. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Jeickot Sanchez, left and Bryant Quintero of the Panama team celebrate after Sanchez scores in the 4th inning against Latin America during game 9 of the Little League World Series. Latin America won 6-4. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Jonathan Urroz Chavez of the Latin America region team falls to the ground on this play at second base as Edgar Villarreal of the Panama team is out at second base during game 9 of the Little League World Series. Latin America won 6-4. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Lusas Olmos of the Panama team throws in the first inning against Latin America during game 9 of the Little League World Series. Latin America won 6-4. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Sergio Jiron Fuentes of the Latin America region team tries to make the play as Lucas Olmos of the Panama team slides safely into second base in the second inning during game 9 of the Little League World Series. Latin America won 6-4. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Pitcher Moises Estrada Juarez of the Latin America region team fields a ball hit by Edgar Villarreat of the Panama team and throws in out at second base during game 9 of the Little League World Series. Latin America won 6-4. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
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Things were far from ideal for Leon, Nicaragua entering the top of the sixth inning. The Latin America Regional champions trailed 4-2 with the bottom of the order up.
Glancing at the box score and seeing one hit, one may assume Nicaragua didn't rally. But a few walks, fielder's choices and two hit batters led to a four-run sixth-inning for Nicaragua and a comeback wild ending as Nicaragua held off Panama for an exciting 6-4 win to go to 2-0 and advance in the International bracket.
"That's one of our qualities is that we have good, quality at bats," Nicaragua manager Jose Gabriel Rodriguez Mayorga said on finding ways to get on base. "That's how you play baseball. A win is a win. We only had one hit, but we got those good bases on balls to score."
Panama had the makings of a sixth-inning comeback in the making. With two outs, Panama had the bases loaded thanks to three walks in a four-batter span. Panama plated a run when Dominick Saavedra Arauz scored, but the final out was recorded when Panama tried sending a runner on a passed ball, only for him to get tagged out and end the game.
With the win, Nicaragua advances to play Mexico on Sunday at 11 a.m. at Volunteer Stadium. Panama (0-1) falls into the elimination bracket and will face either Canada or Australia on Monday.
Nicaragua took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning at Volunteer thanks to a leadoff walk putting Jonathan Urroz Chavez on base and another walk after two strikeouts sending Clemente Sevilla Pichardo to first. Kenyi Jimenez Blandon reached on a walk.
The Latin America Regional champions plated the two runs when Kendry Arauz Roque had a single into right.
Panama was held silent for three innings before they plated three runs in the bottom of the fourth for a 3-2 lead.
It was that inning in which things went Panama's way. It was highlighted by a massive stand-up triple to the right-field fence by Bryant Quintero. A batter later, Josue Hernandez had an RBI single into right before Lucas Olmos hit a shallow single to reach. Jeckot Sanchez scored the first run of the inning by heading home when Nicaragua's catcher wasn't paying attention or looking at the pitcher.
"I'm so happy and proud being 2-0 for my country. We're ready to go and play against Mexico," Nicaragua's Jonathan Urroz Chavez said.
Nicaragua's lone hitter was Roque who had a two-RBI single in the first inning.
Olmos (2 for 2) and Jadhier Rivera (2 for 2) both led Panama with two hits apiece while Sanchez (1 for 2, RBI), Josue Hernandez (1 for 2, RBI) and Quintero (1 for 2, RBI, run) had hits.