Embassy and U.S. Southern Command Bring Baseball Fever Back to Panama

March 28, 2009

Panamanians of all ages enthusiastically welcomed the return of the U.S. Southern Command Baseball All Stars for their 2009 Friendship Tour March 28-30.  For the second consecutive year, the U.S. Embassy in Panama, the Department of State’s Office of Sports Diplomacy, Major League Baseball (MLB), the Pitch In For Baseball Foundation, the Government of Panama’s Ministry of Sport (PanDeportes), and organizations such as the Lions Club of Panama partnered with U.S. Southern Command to bring baseball and fun to fans throughout Panama.

Taking the show to Panama’s interior, the All Stars traveled March 29 to the city of Santiago, the capital of Veraguas province, where passion for baseball runs as high as the temperature.  In front of a crowd of more than 6,000 at the brand-new Omar Torrijos Stadium, and with U.S. Ambassador Barbara Stephenson cheering them on, the All Stars put on a classic against a great Veraguas team with several Major League prospects on its roster.  The home team won 1-0 on a run scored in the bottom of the eighth inning, only the fifth hit of the game.  But baseball and friendship were the big winners as happy fans gave both teams a standing ovation in appreciation.

The All Stars returned to the stadium the following day for a full morning of clinics and fun with more than 400 young ballplayers and a donation of equipment provided by the Pitch In For Baseball Foundation and the Embassy.

A couple days before, the All Stars started their tour March 28, conducting a clinic for more than 300 eager youngsters in the Juan Demostenes Arosemena Stadium in Panama City that included another equipment donation.  Elias Sosa, former Giants’ pitcher and now MLB’s special envoy for Latin America, fired up participants to employ their skills on and off the field to achieve their dreams.  The All Stars then went into action, delivering a commanding 15-3 victory over a Panamanian National Police team in an exhibition at Rod Carew Stadium in which the shared camaraderie meant more than the final score.

The games, clinics, and tour all received extensive coverage by Panama’s major television and radio stations, newspapers, and online publications, including some live television and radio coverage of the game in Santiago.  The team departed March 31 to Managua, having reaffirmed U.S.-Panamanian strong ties through our mutual love of baseball.