July 30, 2001 – Freeport, Grand Bahama — The Virgin Islands Junior Little League Team lost its first game in Latin American Championship play in Freeport, Grand Bahama, Sunday evening, falling to Panama, 5-1.
For the hosts, it was a night of firsts: the first time that the Bahamas has hosted a Little League Latin American Championship and the first time baseball has been played at night in the Bahamas.
For five innings, the game was a pitching duel between Tehron Christian of the Virgin Islands and Panama's, Rapad Pitti. Tehron worked his way out of trouble several time in those innings while Rapad cruised through, recording 10 strikeouts.
Neither team could muster a run for the first three innings. Both scored singles in the fourth, with Shareem Samuel of the Virgin Islands smashing a 340-foot home run over the left field fence. Neither team scored in the fifth inning. Panama scored another single in the top of the sixth to take the lead then held the Virgin Islands scoreless in the bottom of the inning. Panama sealed the Virgin Islands' fate with three runs in the top of the seventh to cap off the scoring.
The Virgin Islands had two hits and committed six errors. Panama had seven hits — with Joseph Guerra getting three in four at-bats — and committed two errors.
The Virgin Islands plays the Bahamas Monday at 2:30 pm. Eight teams are taking part in the tournament: Aruba, the Bahamas, Curacao, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and the Virgin Islands.
