Local Sports

Nicaragua, Curacao earn berths to 2022 Little League World Series with regional wins

The 2022 Little League World Series international field is slowly taking shape as two more regions had their champions crowned. Managua, Nicaragua (14 de Septiembre Little League) won the Latin America region and Willemstad, Curacao (Pabao Little League) won the Caribbean region.

After more than five decades, a team from Nicaragua will be coming to South Williamsport after defeating Venezuela, 10-0, in the Latin America championship.

Host of the region tournament, 14 de Septiembre Little League finished the event with a 5-1 overall record, bouncing back after a 9-6 loss to the team out of Venezuela earlier in the tournament.

This is the first time 14 de Septiembre Little League will travel to South Williamsport to compete in the Little League World Series, and only the third team from Nicaragua to compete in the global event. Chinandega Little League represented the country in its only two other appearances, recording a combined 2-3 record while placing third in the world at the 1970 Series.

Pabao Little League finished the Caribbean region with a 5-1 record, its only loss coming to the Dominican Republic. With its victory, Pabao Little League makes its 10th trip to the Series and the country's 14th overall. Curaçao has found great success in South Williamsport since its first appearance in 1980 with a 41-23 record to go along with a World Series championship in 2004 and two runner-up finishes in 2005 and 2019.

The 2019 Pabao Little League squad represented the country well, fighting through the elimination bracket after dropping their second game to South Korea to battle through and capture the 2019 International championship banner over Japan.

Nicaragua and Curacao will kickoff the Series this year with an opening-round matchup against one another on Wednesday, Aug. 17, at 1 p.m. at Volunteer Stadium.