2025 50+ Central

Venezuela Criollos 9, Dugout Dawgs 3

Submitted by Javier Riccobono, manager

West Palm Beach gave us the full Fall Classic test — heat, pressure, and strong competition, where every inning demands focus. From the first pitch, Venezuela Criollos played like a team with one objective: bring the championship home. And we did: a 9–3 win over the Dugout Dawgs to claim 1st place at the West Palm Beach MSBL Fall Classic.

Offensively, Criollos piled up 16 hits. Hernandez, Pantoja, and Pino each collected three hits, with Pino driving in three RBIs in key spots. Nadal and Larrazabal added multiple hits as well, keeping innings alive and turning constant pressure into runs.

On the mound, it was a full staff win. Diaz started, going 4⅓ innings and allowing three runs on four hits. Then Torrealba shut the door and earned the win with 4⅔ scoreless innings, allowing only two hits. His performance was the exclamation point on an incredible week. Torrealba was named Tournament MVP after winning three games as a pitcher, including the championship clincher.  Defensively, the team was elite, turning four double plays to erase threats and control momentum.

But what makes this championship even bigger is the history behind it. This year marks the 26th participation of Venezuela Criollos in the Fall Classic in the last 27 years, a standard of consistency that very few teams can claim. And in that stretch, Criollos have now won the Fall Classic three times. That’s not just a great week of baseball; that’s a legacy built over decades: showing up, competing, and finishing on top.