Bolivarian Games Ayacucho 2024: Venezuela win gold at women's softball, Colombia claim silver, Dominican Republic bronze
Diana Arcay hit a bases-loaded, two-RBI single in the bottom of the fifth to give world No. 20 Venezuela a 9-2 win against No. 34 Colombia and clinch the women's softball gold medal at the Bolivarian Games Ayacucho 2024. For the bronze medal, No. 35 Dominican Republic defeated hosts and No. 19 Peru, 4-2.
A total of seven teams participated in the competition. No. 39 Guatemala beat No. 52 Chile, 16-3, to earn fifth place, while No. 61 Bolivia finished seventh.
In the bronze medal game, Melody Vizcaino pitched six strong innings for Dominican Republic, giving up seven hits and two runs while striking out four, to lead her team to a 4-2 win against Peru, and onto the podium. Eduarda Rocha homered for the Caribbean squad.
The women's softball event was played at Villa Maria del Triunfo Softball Stadium, which previously hosted the Lima 2019 Pan American Games and the WBSC U-18 Women's Softball World Cup 2021, among other international competitions. The stadium is expected to be the stage for the softball competitions at the Lima 2027 Pan American Games.
The Bolivarian Sports Organization (ODEBO) is an entity that unites the Bolivarian countries through sports. It is also part of the Pan American Sports Organization (Panam Sports), which is part of the International Olympic Committee. Established on August 16, 1938, it brings together the National Olympic Committees of Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela. Other countries, like Guatemala and Dominican Republic, participated as guests.