Los Vecinitos Academy crowned champion of the 2026 Macarrulla Cup
The Macarrulla Foundation brought the successful 2026 edition of its traditional children’s baseball tournament to a close, crowning the Los Vecinitos academy from Ciudad Juan Bosch as the new champions in the U-12 category. Under the motto “Sowing values on the field,” the event stood out not only for its high level of competition but also for its comprehensive focus on human development and sports inclusion.
In the final match, Los Vecinitos overcame the Ozuna Academy, which took the runner-up spot, while the Manny Ledesma Academy completed the podium by securing the bronze medal. Moisés Martínez, a key player for the championship team, was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) for his outstanding performance on the diamond.
Individual awards and the All-Star Team
The closing ceremony served as the stage to award the outstanding talents in various statistical categories. The awardees were:
- Jandel Soto: Leader in batting average and hits.
- Orwin Mejía: Top performer in home runs, RBIs, and runs scored.
- Ethan Estévez: Leader in doubles.
- Yeimmy Marrero: Leader in triples.
- Félix Guzmán: Most games won.
- Andrews Encarnación: Leader in ERA.
Likewise, the All-Star Team was announced, composed of Ángel Leiba, César Valdez, Daniel Paniagua, Eithan Estévez, Yemmy Marrero, Orwin Mejía, Jandel Soto, Moisés Martínez, and Jean Carlos Mireles, who stood out as the best in their respective positions during the season.
I believe we all win. The parents won, society won, sports won, and, particularly, baseball won. The child who is in a sports dynamic at an academy and within a tournament like this is a child who is sowing a future not only for himself but for his family and for the Dominican Republic.
Lisandro Macarrulla
A commitment to integral development
Lisandro Macarrulla highlighted that this edition marked a turning point, especially due to the integration of the women’s category, which featured the participation of 48 girls and young women. This effort seeks to use sports as a fundamental tool to foster discipline and open doors of opportunity for Dominican youth.
For his part, Juan Núñez, president of the Dominican Baseball Federation (FEDOM), positively valued the initiative, stressing that these types of spaces allow young athletes to visualize success through constant effort and fair play.
Over three weekends, the Ciudad Juan Bosch children’s baseball field hosted various institutions, including the Amaurys Nina Academy, La Javilla, IBP, Pimentel Academy, as well as female talent squads, consolidating the Macarrulla Cup as a fundamental pillar for the development of youth baseball in the country.
