After blowing a seven-run lead, The Bahamas Champs team buckled down when it needed to the most and earned a thrilling 14-13 victory over Venezuela at the 2026 PONY Baseball 14U (14-and-Under) Caribbean and Latin American Championships at the Andre Rodgers National Baseball Stadium on Monday.
The late night walkoff win actually placed both Bahamian teams in the semifinals today, giving them both a shot to get into tonight’s championship game. The Bahamas Host team lost to Puerto Rico, 15-0, in four innings, earlier in the day, and needed a win from The Bahamas Champs team to get into the semifinals. Lead-off batter Zach Dean had the host team’s only hit in that game.
The Bahamas Champs 14, Venezuela 13
After committing seven errors, The Bahamas Champs team needed some late game heroics to get the job done against a previously unbeaten Venezuelan team. They got just that as three walks in the bottom of the seventh coupled with an RBI double from Logan Rolle gave the home team a thrilling walkoff victory.
Rolle was the hero of the game for The Bahamas Champs team. He finished 4-for-5 with two home runs, four RBIs (runs batted in) and four runs scored. His RBI double down the third base line in the bottom of the seventh tied the game at 13, and three walks later, The Bahamas Champs team earned the walkoff win.
“It feels amazing. I was looking for fastballs and I got them. I’m just glad that I was able to show up and show out, and we got the win. I feel like I’m seeing the ball well at the plate right now. I’m just looking fror that to continue tomorrow, and for us to come out on top again,” said Rolle.
The Bahamas Champs team got off to a fast start, scoring five runs in the bottom of the first inning. Venezuela actually scored first, but The Bahamas Champs team took control in the bottom of the first inning.
Batting seventh in the lineup, Travonte Saunders got the big knock for The Bahamas in the first inning, drilling a grand slam home run to straight away center field. The home team tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the second to take an 8-1 lead.
Saunders finished with that grand slam home run in three at-bats and got the walkoff basese loaded walk in the bottom of the seventh to win the game for The Bahamas Champs team.
Kamdyn Miller, Isaac Richardson and Jaden Liberal got two hits apiece for The Bahamas Champs team. Liberal also started the game on the mound, and pitched three and two third innings.
“We started off the game well, but then we got a lil flat-footed in the middle of the game, and that almost caused us,” said Team Bahamas’ Manager Donavan Cox. “The bats came alive and that saved us. Errors happen… they’re a part of the game. We just have to put them behind us, and come out strong tomorrow.”
Team Bahamas self-destructed in the middle and late innings as seven errors and a number of walks allowed Venezuela to get back in the game.
After pulling to within 8-2, Venezuela scored three unearned runs in the top of the fourth and added three more in the top of the sixth to get back in the game. A four-run outburst in the top of the fourth inning pulled Venezuela to within 8-6, but The Bahamas got some cushion with the first of Rolle’s two home runs — a solo shot — a half inning later.
After The Bahamas Champs team shut out Venezuela in the top of the fifth inning, Rolle got the second of his two home runs — a two-run shot — in the bottom of the fifth inning to give The Bahamas Champs team an 11-6 lead.
“I’m just glad that I was able to do my part,” said Rolle. “We definitely have to come out and cut down on the errors tomorrow. Once we do that, I feel confident that we will pull off the victory.”
The Bahamas Champs team will play Venezuela again in the semis today. That game will be the number two versus number three matchup, with The Bahamas Champs team as the second seeded team and Venezuela as the third seeded team. It will start at noon.
The other semifinal game will feature the top seeded Puerto Rican team going up against The Bahamas Host team, seeded fourth. The championship game is set for 6 p.m. this evening.
“We’re definitely coming to win,” said Team Bahamas’ Manager Cox. “We have some things to clean up on, but I like our chances. We have arms ands we’re ready to go. We’ll give it our best effort tomorrow (today). Once we pitch well and play good defense, we should win.”
Puerto Rico finished the round-robin portion of the tournament undefeated at 4-0. The Bahamas Champs team and Venezuela both finished at 3-1, and The Bahamas Host team ended at 2-2.
Just the winner of the tournament will advance to the 2026 PONY 14U Baseball World Series, scheduled for August 7-12 in Washington, Pennsylvania.
