The renowned 2024 Caribbean Series of Baseball is currently taking place in Miami, USA. Mark-Benson Denz, a representative of 24ora.com, was present at Loan Depot Park where the Curaçao team faced Mexico. Curaçao won against Mexico with a one-run difference (6-5).
Hainley Statia (Team Manager) mentioned that he is satisfied because they started training in November already and gradually intensified the training over time. They identified the areas that needed reinforcement.
In December, they sought two reinforcements, and as January began, daily training commenced. Also part of the team is the player Rubiano Calvin Maduro. This is not his first time; last year, he was already part of the team that went to Caracas for the Caribbean Series. He is now part of the staff as a pitching coach. During a stay in the United States, Manager Statia was impressed by Eric Mendez from Aruba. As he holds a Dutch passport, an invitation was extended to him to be part of the team as well.
As for the game itself, initially, they fell behind, but they had confidence in their players. Profar reassured them, saying, “Don’t worry.” In that inning, they scored three runs, and in another inning, they added two more. “Kevin Kelly did a tremendous job, but he got tired and made a few small mistakes that allowed Mexico to score some runs in the ninth inning.” At that moment, the manager brought in Anthony Herrera to ensure Curaçao’s victory.
Curaçao’s triumph makes Statia feel good because he knows the Mexico team, which is one of the best. He has been following them since the winter season. Both their pitching and batting are impressive, and in the same Thursday game, they hit three home runs. Calvin Maduro recounts that last year, he helped them with scouting, and now they have placed him as a pitching coach. He is confident that the Curaçao team is very good.
They went to Curaçao for two weeks to put the pitchers on a routine of consecutive games to help the batters maintain their rhythm. The team brought 14 pitchers and selected the one to use based on the opponent they were facing. Maduro states that the Curaçao team has everything good – pitching, batting, and defense. He is confident that they will go far. Eric Mendez is a young pitcher with good potential.
They study the best moment for him to enter the game. Eric Mendez himself mentioned that as soon as they approached him, he accepted the offer. “I mentally prepared myself. I trained a lot in Santo Domingo.” And I continued training in Curaçao afterward.
