The duration of games went down from three hours 26 minutes to two hours 46 minutes with broadcasters particularly impressed with the change.

The tournament served as a selection for the forthcoming Youth National Championship. Baseball5 World Champion manager Pablo Terry served as the Technical Director.

Estadio Mártires de Barbados in Bayamo will host the re-match of the final series between Granma and Matanzas.

The 15-year Major League veteran became the second in history to play and manage the U-18 USA. "Any time you have an opportunity to don the stars and stripes is extremely special."

The 'seleccion' flew to Japan on 5 February and has so far played three warm-up games against NPB teams. They will compete in Group A against Chinese Taipei, Netherlands, Panama and Italy.

The first course took place on 10 February, and the second is scheduled for 17 February. The next step would be licensing game officials.

All 45 clubs will be involved. The programme will include 44 games from Friday, 17 to Sunday, 19 February.

Wilfredo Montoya (home plate) and Sheyla Baez (second base) are life partners. They served on the same umpiring crew during the Central American and Caribbean Games Qualifier.

From 25 June to 1 July, Nicaragua will face Cuba, Curaçao, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Venezuela in the Central American and Caribbean Games.