Panama reaffirmed its tradition of excellence in children's baseball by securing its place in the 2026 Little League World Series, with the David-Doleguita team qualifying last Friday. In recent years, the country has maintained its position in the elite of children's baseball, gaining direct access to the tournament since its international expansion in 2022, except for the 2024 edition. The relationship between Panama and the Little League program goes far beyond the World Series. Since 1950, with the creation of leagues on both sides of the Panama Canal, the country has been a fundamental part of the international growth of this sport, strengthening historical ties with the United States through developmental baseball. This connection is also reflected in the figures who have emerged from this system. Their participation in the 79th edition of the World Series, to be held from August 19 to 30, represents not only a sporting competition but also the shared history that unites cultures, dreams, and generations through baseball. That generation marked a before and after for Panamanian baseball in minor categories. Beyond that memory, Panama's presence in this tournament has been constant. This is a team that connects the present with a deeply rooted history in the country and the development of this sport internationally. Little League Baseball confirmed the Chiriquí team as the first to secure a ticket to Williamsport after conquering the Little League Baseball National Championship. The Little League organization recalled that Rod Carew, a Hall of Fame member; Mariano Rivera, the only unanimous Hall of Fame inductee; and Christian Bethancourt, all with a past in Little League, represent the impact of this program on the development of Panamanian talent. Now, the 2026 generation of David-Doleguita continues that legacy. The team sealed its ticket by winning the decisive game of the Final Series 8-4 against Panama Oeste (Barrio Colón), closing the tournament with a solid record of 11-3. This achievement has a special meaning. This will be the fourteenth time a Panamanian team will compete in Williamsport, since that first participation in 1984 with the Willys R. Cook children's league. David-Doleguita will return to Williamsport for the second time in its history, remembering that unforgettable 1993 participation when it reached the tournament final and settled for the runner-up spot after falling to Long Beach, California.
