CEF win Men's Softball National Championship in Argentina

With 37 teams, Men's Softball National Championship concluded in Argentina on Tuesday. CEF defeated Don Bosco in the final, 7-1, to claim the country's most important title. It represents the blue team's fourth title in the last five years. They threepeated in 2021, 2022 and 2023; losing the final in 2024 against Patronato.

“We had come very close last year to winning four in a row, and we were frustrated about that, but this year we managed to win it again and enjoy it,” highlighted Juan Cruz Zara, CEF's and Argentina National Team catcher, in an interview with El Once TV. “Reaching five consecutive finals means that we are going through an amazing period as a team and institution, and I hope we keep going down this path.”

The final of the tournament, which ran on seven diamonds from 28 February to 4 March in Parana, was played at the Nafaldo Cargnel Stadium, which is a two-time Softball World Cup venue and is known as the cathedral of Argentina softball. 

Nahuel Saenz, a WBSC U-23 Men's Softball World Cup 2023 bronze medallist, was named the tournament's best pitcher. "I've been playing national tournaments for a while, and it's an honour to receive such a big award. I didn't expect it because I didn’t do so well in the tournament, but I performed well in the final," Saenz said. 

The teams are split into four different categories, with promotion and relegation. These were the final positions:

Zona Campeonato: 1°) CEF; 2°) Don Bosco; 3°) Patronato; 4°) Estudiantes de Parana; 5°) Talleres; 6°) Oro Verde; 7°) Mayu de La Pampa; 8°) Metropolitanos

Zona Ascenso: 1°) Liniers de Bahia Blanca; 2°) Indios de Bahia Blanca; 3°) Tigres; 4°) Black Dogs; 5°) Universidad Nacional de La Matanza; 6°) Águilas de Santiago del Estero; 7°) Moron.

Zona Promoción: 1°) Talleres B de Parana; 2°) CA Repecho; 3°) Kamikazez; 4) Universidad de Cuyo; 5°) Maipu; 6°) San Juan; 7°) Indios de Tucuman.

Zona Estímulo: 1°) Caciques; 2°) Fabrica de Armas; 3°) Junin; 4°) Scorpions; 5°) Union; 6°) Japoneses; 7) Estudiantes de Parana B; 8°) Softbol Play B; 9°) Celtas; 10°) Las Heras; 11°) City Bell; 12°) Los Tarros; 13°) Santa Fe; 14°) Gualeguay; 15°) Águilas de Corrientes.