Shooting in Caracas Mars Baseball Championships

August 14, 2010 | Story by: Hal Goodtree | Categories: Baseball, Featured, News

Story by Hal Goodtree. Photo by Chris Adamczyk.

Cary, NC – Just a week ago, the Women’s USA Baseball Team was in Cary, warming up for the World Baseball Championship in Caracas, Venezuela. Now, the tournament is on hold pending an investigation of a shooting inside the stadium where the games are played.

Hong Kong was on the field playing the Netherlands when a bullet struck one of HK players in the leg. It was unclear where the bullet came from, but the stadium, in the Fort Tiuna military base, is surrounded by dangerous and violent hillside slums. Gun violence is endemic in Venezuela, one of the most violent countries in the Americas.

Venezuelan Vice-President Elias Jaua told state television the player was not seriously injured but that the day’s games had been suspended while police investigated the incident.

USA Baseball issued this following statement:

“We are aware of the events which unfolded Friday in Caracas, and since then we have been working closely with our security agents who are traveling as part of our Women’s National Team delegation in Venezuela, with the International Baseball Federation (IBAF) and with the event organizers to gather more information as we determine the appropriate next steps for our delegation,” said Paul Seiler, USA Baseball Executive Director/CEO.

“The safety of our athletes has been and always will be our top priority.”