Ghana’s Youth Baseball 5 team, the Golden Palms, successfully defended their African title in South Africa on Sunday, January 12, earning a spot at the Youth World Championship in Mexico.

Despite a rocky start, losing their opening game to Tunisia with scores of 5:0 and 5:2, the team quickly found their rhythm. In their second game, they dominated Zimbabwe with a 13:1 and 14:1 scoreline.

Ghana continued their winning streak by narrowly defeating Kenya 2:1 in the third game. In their final group game, the Golden Palms faced the host nation, South Africa, and emerged victorious with scores of 10:0, 10:20, and 1:3.

In the quarterfinals, Ghana showcased their dominance with a resounding victory over Lesotho, winning in two straight sets, 15:0 and 16:0. The semifinals saw a rematch with South Africa, where Ghana once again emerged victorious with scores of 9:4 and 7:3, securing their place in the finals.

In a gripping final showdown against Kenya, the Golden Palms clinched the championship by winning 5:3 and 8:5, thus successfully defending their African title.

Elizabeth Lavor, the captain of the team, was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament for her outstanding performance throughout the games.