PHOTO PROVIDED Members of Vacamonte Little League of Arraijan, Panama pose with the Panama Region championship banner after winning the title in this photo by Little League International.

Vacamonte Little League of Arraijan, Panama has been named the first team to clinch a spot in the 2025 Little League World Series after winning the Panama Region championship game in Panama City by the score of 4-0.

Vacamonte LL went 8-2 overall in the Region Tournament, squaring off against Aguadulce LL in the championship game, a rematch of Game 27 earlier in the tournament in which Vacamonte LL also won in a 9-3 victory.

This will be Vacamonte LL’s second appearance in the LLBWS, the first since a 1-2 showing in the 2018 LLBWS, and 13th for the country overall. Panama’s direct entry to the Little League World Series began in 2022 in coordination with the World Series expansion that was announced in 2019.

Panama was put in a rotation with Puerto Rico and Cuba, with two of the three teams earning direct entry as the third will compete through its region tournament for a spot in the LLWS. The last team from Panama to play in Williamsport was in 2023, when Activo 20-30 Little League went 2-2 in the tournament.

Throughout the years, Panama has held a prominent spot in Little League history. In 1950, the first leagues established outside the United States were formed on either side of the Panama Canal with the Pacific and Atlantic Little Leagues of Balboa.

The country is also home to 2004 LLWS graduate Christian Bethancourt, as well as Rod Carew, class of 1991 Baseball Hall of Fame inductee. Panama is also home to Mariano Rivera, the only unanimous selection into the Baseball Hall of Fame and a 2015 Little League Hall of Excellence enshrinee who played for Barrio Colon Little League in La Chorrea, Panama, growing up.

The official schedule for the 2025 LLBWS will be announced in mid-March, while first-round matchups will be announced in mid-June as the 78th Little League World Series will take place from August 13-24.