2008 Copa América (baseball)

The 2008 America Baseball Cup was held in the Venezuelan cities of Puerto Ordaz and El Tigre, from September 26 to October 7. The tournament acted as a qualifier for the 2009 World Cup.

"America Baseball Cup" is the English translation of the competition's Spanish name, which is Copa America de Beisbol.^[1] The competition was used to select the teams that represented Central and South America — including the Caribbean — in the Baseball World Cup.^[1]

Format and participation

The tournament is split up into 2 groups. Group A consists of Venezuela, Nicaragua, Colombia, Netherlands Antilles and Mexico, and Group B consists of Puerto Rico, Brazil, Aruba, Guatemala and Panama.

Cuba did not compete because they already qualified for the 2009 World Cup as they were Olympic competitors the same year.^[2]

Results

Puerto Rico won the tournament, defeating Nicaragua 4:1 in the final.^[3]

Final Standing

Place	Team
	Puerto Rico
	Nicaragua
	Mexico
4	Netherlands Antilles
5	Venezuela
6	Panama
7	Brazil
8	Aruba
9	Guatemala and Colombia

2008 Americas Baseball champions
Puerto Rico First title

Notable players

C: César Quintero, Panama (.577/.593/.846)
1B: Carlos Rivera, Puerto Rico (MVP) (.375/.444/.719, 3 HR, 10 RBI)
2B: Ofilio Castro, Nicaragua (.480/.536/.640, 7 R, 7 RBI)
SS: Andy González, Puerto Rico (.379/.455/.517, 8 R)
3B: Agustín Murillo, Mexico (.323/.353/.742, 4 2B, 3 HR, 7 R, 11 RBI)
OF: Willie Vasquez, Venezuela (.414/.469/.483)
OF: Ardley Jansen, Netherlands Antilles (.444/.467/.963, 4 HR, 8 R, 8 RBI)
OF: Danilo Sotelo, Nicaragua (.385/.393/.462)
DH: José Velázquez, Puerto Rico (.308/.379/.462)
RHP: Johnny Gregorius, Netherlands Antilles (2-0, 0 R, 5 H in 15 IP)
LHP: Raymond Martes, Netherlands Antilles (1-1, 5.02)

References

^ ^a ^b "Final Spots in World Cup on the line at Copa America". Mister Baseball. October 2, 2008. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2010-08-13.
^ "Cuba Not to Attend Baseball America Cup". CRIENGLISH.com. September 25, 2008. Archived from the original on 26 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-03.
^ "Puerto Rico se corona en el premundial de béisbol" (in Spanish). Primera Hora. 2008-10-05. Archived from the original on December 8, 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-05.

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[misterbaseball-1] "Final Spots in World Cup on the line at Copa America". Mister Baseball. October 2, 2008. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2010-08-13.

[2] "Cuba Not to Attend Baseball America Cup". CRIENGLISH.com. September 25, 2008. Archived from the original on 26 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-03.

[3] "Puerto Rico se corona en el premundial de béisbol" (in Spanish). Primera Hora. 2008-10-05. Archived from the original on December 8, 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-05.

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