Dantos and Cougars start Baseball Champions League with wins

The Baseball Champions League 2026 opened at Alfredo Harp Helu Stadium in Mexico City with a pair of slugfests, which resulted in two surprises.

The defending Champions of Nicaragua's Pomares League, Managua Dantos, defeated the Chinese Professional Baseball League's runner-up CTBC Brothers, 17-5 before the American Association champions, Kane County Cougars, outscored the hosts and Mexican Baseball League (LMB) two-time champions, Mexico City Diablos Rojos, 14-7 in the night game.

Dantos-CTBC Brothers 17-5

Managua got to starter Huei-Sheng Lin and his reliever Chan-Chang Lin with a pair of early rallies to take a lead they wouldn't surrender.

Dantos scored five runs on seven hits, including catcher Rodolfo Bone's three-run homer, in the top of the second. They added four on a couple of two-run homers by centre fielder Bismarck Rivera and left fielder Oscar Mendoza in the top of the third.

Dantos added two homers in a six-run ninth with Rivera and right fielder William Rayo. Managua's offence combined 22 hits.

The Nicaraguan champions used four pitchers. Starter Angel Obando allowed five runs, four earned, over 4.1 innings and reliever Elias Gutierrez pitched 2.2 scoreless innings for the win. He allowed only one walk while striking out six.

Cougars-Diablos Rojos 14-7

The Kane County Cougars used 17 hits, including home runs, to overcome seven Mexican pitchers and win the slugfest against the hosts and Baseball Champions League champions Diablos Rojos.

Designated hitter Todd Lott, right fielder Max Murphy, second baseman Josh Allen and third baseman Claudio Finol homered, and every batter in Kane County's lineup had at least a hit, except for shortstop Sam Dexter. Murphy and left fielder Dillon Thomas had three hits. Murphy, Allen, Lott and centre fielder Armond Upshaw had two RBIs.

The Diablos Rojos also had a good hitting night and combined 13 hits, including a home run by second baseman Moises Gutierrez, against eight North American pitchers. Reliever Jake Dykoff earned the win. He allowed two runs on four hits in two innings of mound service.

Day 2

The winners of the 64th Cuban National League (Serie Nacional) Matanzas Cocodrilos will debut on the second round-robin day on Wednesday, March 25.

10:00 CTBC Brothers @ Matanzas Cocodrilos
19:00 Diablos Rojos @ Dantos
all times are local

Cover photo: Todd Lott (Cougars) rounds third base after hitting a home run