LLWS 2026 Game 29 Recap: Curaçao 12, Latin America 3
Curaçao routed Nicaragua 12-3 in a showdown between the tournament’s last two unbeaten teams. A remarkable 10-run second inning turned a competitive early game into a rout. The winner-take-all stakes were high: the winner advanced directly to Saturday’s international championship.
Curaçao improves to 4-0 in the tournament, having not allowed a single run across its first three games before this offensive outburst. Nicaragua, previously unbeaten itself, now drops into the elimination bracket and must win out to keep its championship hopes alive.
A Remarkable 10-Run Second Inning
Curaçao broke the game open with a 10-run second inning that turned an early, competitive matchup into a laugher. The outburst overwhelmed a Nicaraguan pitching staff that had carried the team through a scorching-hot run to the winners’ bracket final. Nicaragua answered with three runs of its own but could not keep pace with Curaçao’s offense.
An unbeaten team’s breakout game: Curaçao had relied largely on pitching and defense through its first three wins of the tournament, including two shutouts and a combined no-hitter over Japan. The 10-run second inning marked the most offense the team has produced in a single frame all tournament.
A Battle of Unbeaten Teams
Both Curaçao and Nicaragua entered the game unbeaten, setting up a winner-take-all showdown in the international bracket. The winner advanced directly to Saturday’s international championship game, while the loser dropped into the elimination bracket to play Thursday again. Curaçao’s offensive explosion settled the question in decisive fashion.
Nicaragua’s road ahead: Nicaragua had scored 14 combined runs across two earlier wins over Panama and Mexico before running into Curaçao’s second-inning surge. The Latin America region champions now must win out through the elimination bracket to have any chance of reaching the championship.
How the Game Unfolded
| Stretch | Key Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Inning | Both unbeaten teams start cautiously in a tense, high-stakes opener. | CUR 0, LA 0 |
| 2nd Inning | Curaçao sends a wave of batters to the plate, scoring 10 runs to blow the game open. | CUR 10, LA 0 |
| Later Innings | Nicaragua answers with three runs, but Curaçao’s pitching staff protects the big lead. | Final: CUR 12, LA 3 |
Game 29 Box Score
| Team | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curaçao | 12 | TBD | TBD |
| Latin America, Nicaragua | 3 | TBD | TBD |
Next Games for Curaçao and Latin America
Curaçao’s path forward: Pariba Little League moves directly to Saturday’s international championship game, needing just one more win to reach the LLWS final. Curaçao improves to 4-0 in the tournament, extending an unbeaten run built on shutouts and a combined no-hitter. Nicaragua now turns to the elimination bracket, where it must win every remaining game to reach the championship.
Conclusion
Curaçao routed Nicaragua 12-3 in Game 29 of the 2026 LLWS behind a remarkable 10-run second inning. The win settles a showdown between the tournament’s last two unbeaten teams and sends Curaçao directly to Saturday’s international championship. Curaçao improves to 4-0 in the tournament after previously winning with pitching and defense.
Nicaragua drops into the elimination bracket and must now win out to keep its championship hopes alive, returning to action Thursday. The lopsided result marked a stark contrast to the tight, low-scoring games that had defined Curaçao’s tournament run to this point.
