USA Earns Second Bronze in a Row
Venezuela defeated New Zealand, 3-0, and won the country’s first ever Men’s Softball World Cup in what proved to be a redemption story twelve years in the making. This final marked Venezuela’s second appearance in a World Championship Final, following their previous participation in 2013 when they fell to New Zealand 4-1.
Tournament MVP Maiker Pimentel delivered a heroic pitching performance that epitomized Venezuela’s championship spirit. After dominating through 5.2 innings of one-hit ball with nine strikeouts, Pimentel twisted his ankle in the fifth inning and had to be helped off the field. But in a remarkable display of determination, he courageously returned to the mound in the sixth inning with two outs and runners in scoring position, escaping the jam to preserve Venezuela’s lead. Pimentel then pitched a scoreless seventh inning to seal the historic victory, silencing a New Zealand team that had reached the final ten times previously.
Emotional Victory for Venezuela
“I think Venezuela is proud on a global level despite our struggles. This brings so much joy to many people. It’s incredible for us as a team, as individuals, and for our country, which isn’t going through the best times,” said head coach Delio Lopez after the final.
As a country, this is the first Softball World Cup title in any category for Venezuela, making the victory even more significant for the South American nation.
USA Claims Second Straight Bronze
Meanwhile, USA claimed the bronze medal at the WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup Finals 2025, with a solid 10-1 win against Japan in the bronze medal game. This medal represents the second consecutive bronze medal for USA in the premiere men’s softball tournament, following their bronze finish in 2022. The medal in 2022 ended a lengthy medal drought for the USA, so this second bronze establishes their place among the contenders for world title.
Home runs by Jeffrey Lewis, Erick Ochoa, Blaine Milheim and Tyler Johnson propelled USA to the podium in what became a showcase of American power hitting. None were bigger than Lewis’ grand slam in the fifth inning, which came at a crucial moment when the USA trailed 1-0, turning the game around in this pivotal moment.
The tournament concluded with Venezuela finally reaching the summit after years of near-misses, while Team USA continues their consistent medal-winning tradition in international softball competition.