What Happened
Colón secured its place in the semifinal round of the Campeonato Nacional de Béisbol Mayor after defeating Herrera 6-0 at the Claudio Nieto Stadium. The win sent Colón into its fifth straight semifinal and kept alive its push for a third final in four years.
Colón joined Bocas del Toro among the teams already confirmed for the next stage, while the last two semifinal spots are being decided in winner-take-all games.
How Colón Took Control
The Colonenses threatened early with two singles in the top of the second inning, but the opening breakthrough came one inning later. With two outs, Jhadiel Santamaría drove a home run to left field to put Colón on the board.
The advantage grew in the fifth inning after Kevin Velásquez singled to left and Omar Ortega followed with a hit to right. Anmi Ortega then added another single to right that brought Velásquez home for a 2-0 lead.
The decisive blow came in the sixth, when Colón strung together a four-run rally. Jorge Bishop and Jason Patterson opened the frame with back-to-back singles, and a fielding error on a grounder by Velásquez allowed another run to score. Amir Ortega later drew a walk to load the bases, setting up Santamaría again. This time, he doubled to right and cleared the bases, stretching the margin beyond reach.
Pitching Shut the Door
Colón’s pitchers controlled the rest of the game. Julio Denis worked five innings, allowed five hits and struck out three without issuing a walk. Carlos Rodríguez then handled the final four innings, throwing a perfect relief outing with nine strikeouts and no hits or walks allowed.
Santamaría led the offense with a 2-for-4 night that included a home run, a double and four runs batted in. His performance was the centerpiece of a complete team effort that sent Colón through with authority.
Last Semifinal Spots Up for Grabs
With Colón and Bocas del Toro already qualified, attention now turns to the final two quarterfinal deciders. Chiriquí faces Veraguas at 7:00 p.m. at Kenny Serracín Stadium, while Panamá Oeste meets Darién at 7:00 p.m. at Mariano Rivera Stadium.
Both games are set to determine the last teams advancing in the 2026 tournament, adding late pressure to a competition that has already confirmed two semifinal contenders and could soon complete the bracket.