Panama goes for victory in the World Baseball Classic

Panama to go 2023 World Baseball Classic with the goal of achieving their first victory and at the same time qualifying for the next stage of the tournament.

The ninth national team played two World Classics 2006 and 2009both in guest status and failed to win a single game

“We have an obligation and Panama has never won, we will be serious, we have to win, because this tournament has never been won,” said the coach of the Panamanian team yesterday, Luis Ortiz.

The national ninth pilot also recalled being present as part of the coaching staff World Cup 2009

“I went with Mr. Hector Lopez 2009 in this tournament, we didn’t win, we didn’t score, let’s go win and change history,” specified Ortiz about the upcoming tournament and where Panama is in Group A, which it hosts Taichung, Taiwan.

The ninth national team will debut against Chinese Taipei March 8, the next day is measured in Netherlands (Netherlands).

Later on March 10, they will face each other Cuba and participation closes the next day against Italy.

“I feel that if we win that first game, many things will open up for us, they will play against the home team and the first game will be difficult,” Ortiz admitted, but added that the team is ready for the first opponent.

For manager Ortiz the first two games of Panama in the World Classic They are crucial, “we have to win the first two games or split half-half, in order to qualify,” reiterated the man from Colón.

While admitting that he has an idea about the starting lineup, Ortiz made it clear that there is still nothing completely “definite” about the formation of the first team and the starting rotation.

“I have an idea, but it is not defined,” he stressed Ortiz, about the team against which he could make his debut Chinese Taipei.

Panama in it A world classic has jugs: Jaime Barría, Humberto Mejía and Andy Oterowho could be his top three openers, admitted to the coach when asked about those scorers and admitted they “have a good arm”.

But he remembered that he also had spikes Harold Arauz and with Alberto Guerrero who was a starter in Mexico and has good references.

Ortiz He wasn’t so worried about the Panamanian starters, since they have a limit on the pitches, and he reminded that the work they can do in relief is also important.

others who think of Panama has the baseball resources to advance to the next round is Humberto Mejiawho received the Panamanian flag on behalf of the players of the national team.

Mejía that it is clear to him that he would open the match in the group round in world classic, was optimistic that Panama You can go to the next round.

For the Panamanian pitcher, without underestimating his opponent, he thinks so Chinese Taipei and the Netherlands They are the hardest team to beat in Group A.