Colombia’s Caimanes de Barranquilla won the Caribbean Baseball Series 2022 pennant by defeating 4-1 the Gigantes del Cibao of the Dominican Republic. Of course it was a short series that could have been won by anyone. But it hurts double to lose in the home country.
The defeat was heart-breaking. The Gigantes del Cibao, the team representing San Francisco de Macorís, in Duarte province, had won the regular series, the semi-finals and the finals in the Dominican Winter Professional Baseball Championship. The team had won the most games in the first round of the Caribbean Series, losing just to Colombia’s Caimanes de Barranquilla. And then that same team would be its nemesis in the playoff of the Caribbean Series played on 3 February 2022 at the Quisqueya-Juan Marichal Ballpark.
The organization of the tournament was a success. Despite none of the capital city teams or the popular Aguilas team of the Cibao being in the tournament, Dominican fans turned out to back the local team in large numbers. For the semi-finals and playoff, the stadium was full of Dominican fans.
The win is likely to strengthen baseball development efforts in Colombia. This was the second time Colombia participated in the regional tournament. It is the first time the team wins the tournament. Jose Mosquera, manager of the Caimanes, said the win should mark a before and after for Colombian baseball.
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4 February 2022