WILLEMSTAD - Curaçao’s national baseball team emerged as the 2024 Kopa Karibe champions on Monday, securing a 2-1 victory over the U.S. Virgin Islands in a nail-biting final. The decisive moment came from Ericson Leonora, whose clutch hit drove in the game-winning run, sealing the win for Curaçao. 

This victory ties Curaçao with the Dominican Republic as the most successful countries in the tournament's history, each with two championships. Curaçao began the tournament with a loss to the U.S. Virgin Islands but quickly bounced back, showcasing their resolve in an impressive 11-1 win over the Bahamas in a previous match. That game highlighted the team’s determination, with six runs scored in the first inning alone. 

With their two wins and one loss in the round-robin phase, Curaçao’s performance reinforces their standing in Caribbean baseball and sets high hopes for future competitions.