Championship Game Opponent at a Glance

Team: Nuevo Leon, Mexico, which is representing Latin America

Record: 28-0

Notes: This is the first time in 33 years that a team from the Monterrey area has advanced to the championship final. Nuevo Leon won the Mexican championship for the first time in 27 years, then defeated Nicaragua, 4-2, in the Latin American final. It swept through International pool play, scoring 19 runs and shutting out all four opponents. The team batting average is .316. Pitcher Adrian Luna is batting .444 with two home runs, and Pablo Torres, one of two pitchers being considered to start on Saturday, is batting .583 with seven hits, including two homers. The other pitcher who could start Saturday is Gabriel Alvarez. Manager Jaime Luna took a team into the Senior League Baseball (15 and under) World Series several years ago.

Quote Unquote: Mexican Coach Jose Angel Valadez said he feels good about playing South Mission Viejo. “Everyone else in this tournament has better batters than they do,” he said. “They have good pitching but weaker hitting.”