Firefighter Challenge is Coming to Martin County  PORT ST. LUCIE, FLA. – Firefighters from around the country will converge on Stuart Beach in Martin County from May 14-15, 2022 to compete in the globally recognized Firefighter Challenge. The public, along with aspiring firefighters, are invited to attend this free, family friendly event and to cheer on these amazing heroes. Due to the support from the Martin County Board of County Commissioners, Martin County Fire District, Martin County Office of Tourism, Martin County Parks and Recreation and Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism, the public will have a front row seat to witness the physical talents of these public safety professionals in action. “We are so excited to bring the Firefighter Challenge back to the Treasure Coast”, said Rick Hatcher, President/CEO, Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism. “It’s an opportunity to bring first responders and their families to the area and showcase what the community has to offer while providing a boost to the local economy.” The Firefighter Challenge is designed to promote, showcase, and publicly celebrate the selfless spirit and extraordinary fitness levels of America’s firefighters on a challenge course that creates one entertaining sporting event. “Participants in the Challenge aim to inspire their fellow firefighter to also aim for the highest level of fitness, wellness, and safety”, says Russell A. Jackson, Chief Executive Officer of the First Responder Institute, “so they can perform at their absolute best and minimize risks of injury on every 911 call”. Challenge participants run the skills-based course tackling what are known as the Five Essential Functions™ wearing full turnout gear and a self-contained breathing apparatus provided by 3M™ Scott™ Air-Pak™. Participants, in head-to-head, individual, and tandem competitions, simulate the physical demands of real-life firefighting by climbing the five-story tower, hoisting, chopping, dragging hoses, and rescuing a life-sized, 175- pound “victim” as they race against themselves, their opponents and the clock. “All firefighters are invited to participate regardless of where they are in their physical journey”, said Jackson. “I compare our participants to those running in a marathon. Not everyone here is focused on just winning the race. Many have incredible testimonials about how the Challenge has helped them on their journey of improving their personal and professional mental, physical and medical wellbeing. The comradery, encouragement and takeaway lessons our participants have at each event are immeasurable.” The Firefighter Challenge is a program of the First Responder Institute, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that is focused on reducing line-of-duty injuries and deaths caused by strain, sprain, muscular pain, or latent heart disease which costs departments, insurers, and taxpayers billions of dollars each year. “Firefighters are competitive in nature. We make everything and anything a competition”, says Conner Pecci, Competitor, Martin County Firefighter Challenge Team. This challenge makes you mentally and physically push your limits beyond anything you can imagine. The ability to fight through that pain and suffering is what motivates us because we always want to be better.” The Kid’s Firefighter Challenge course will also be onsite providing a family-friendly half-pint size replica of the course. “At some point in their lives, virtually every kid has gleamed at the fire trucks flashing their red lights, sounding their sirens, and speeding on their way to assist or rescue those in need. Like me, many tell their parents, “I want to be a firefighter!”, said Jackson. “And I did at the age of 18! With the Challenge we hope to inspire our next generation of firefighters because now, more than ever before, career and volunteer fire departments need more individuals to raise their hand and to serve in their local community.” EVENT INFO: May 14-15, 2022 Opening Ceremony begins at 10am both days. LOCATION: Stuart Beach in Martin County: 891 NE Ocean Blvd, Stuart, FL 34996 COST: FREE FOR THE PUBLIC TO VIEW. www.firefighterchallenge.com MEDIA CONTACTS: Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism Representative: Ryan Strickland 772-380-6221 | rstrickland@playtreasurecoastflorida.com Firefighter Challenge Representative: Russell A. Jackson 301-615-0180 ext. 101 or mobile: 205-936-3361 About Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism (formerly Treasure Coast Sports Commission) offers event owners and managers access to outstanding sport facilities, special pricing on hotels from our partners and grants to help fund your event. Located on the East Central Coast of Florida comprising Indian River, St. Lucie and Martin Counties, the Treasure Coast is 45 minutes north of the Palm Beaches and the West Palm Beach International Airport, 90 minutes north of Ft. Lauderdale, 120 minutes north of Miami, and 120 minutes south of Orlando. Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism is the official home of the Florida Sports Hall of Fame, located at the MIDFLORIDA Event Center in Port St. Lucie. For more information, visit https://www.playtreasurecoastflorida.com .

USA Baseball Qualifies for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad Tokyo 2020 Media Contact: Jason Hendrix, media@playtreasurecoastflorida.com Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism contact: Ryan Strickland, 772-380-6221 or rstrickland@playtreasurecoastflorida.com Photo courtesy of Ryan Dowd PORT ST. LUCIE, FLA. – On championship Saturday at the WBSC Baseball Americas Qualifier Event, the United States punched its ticket to the Games of the XXXII Olympiad Tokyo 2020 with a 4-2 win over Venezuela. Team USA finished tournament play with a perfect 4-0 record and becomes the fifth National Team to advance to the 2020 Tokyo Games, joining #1 Japan, #3 Korea, #5 Mexico and #18 Israel. With Dominican Republic’s 6-5 win over Canada in the 1 p.m. contest, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela claimed their spots in WBSC Baseball Final Qualifier June 22-26 in Puebla, Mexico, eliminating Canada from Olympic competition. At Estadio de Béisbol Hermanos Serdán, home of Mexican Baseball League’s Pericos de Puebla, the winner of the Final Qualifier will earn the sixth and final berth into the Games of the XXXII Olympiad Tokyo 2020. The Final Qualifier event will now include just Australia and Netherlands, as Chinese Taipei withdrew from the final event on June 2. #12 Canada 5 - #10 Dominican Republic 6 ( Box Score ) The matchup between Canada and Dominican Republic was the equivalent of a 12-round boxing match between two heavyweights going the distance. The lead either changed hands or the game was tied on six separate occasions through nine innings of play, with #10 Dominican Republic pulling out the narrow 6-5 victory over #12 Canada. Baseball Canada raced out to the early lead in the opening frame with three consecutive hits. Third baseman Eric Wood connected for the first hit of the game with a triple to the left-center field gap. On the next pitch from Dominican starter Raul Valdés, designated hitter Connor Panas slid an RBI-single down the left field line, giving Canada the 1-0 lead. On a 1-2 count, shortstop Daniel Pinero pushed Canada’s gap to 3-0, connecting for a two-run home run. The Dominican Republic chipped away at Canada’s lead over the next four innings to eventually take a 4-3 advantage, flipping the momentum. With an RBI-single by shortstop Jeison Guzmán in the second inning and a two-run single by designated hitter Juan Francisco in the third, the game now sat tied at 3-3. The D.R. took its first lead of the day, 4-3, two innings later on a solo home run by catcher Charlie Valerio. Down but not out, Canada battled back in the top of the sixth to tie the game at 4-4 and then regained the lead, 5-4, for the second time of the game in the top of the eighth. Pinero continued to be a one-man wrecking crew for Canada as the shortstop recorded his second home run of the contest in the sixth inning and drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth with an RBI-single to center. Pinero finished the day with a 3-for-4 showing at the plate, driving in four of Canada’s five runs. A two-out rally in the bottom of the eighth by the Dominican Republic saw the lead change hands for the fourth and final time in the contest. As a runner stood on second base, Gustavo Núñez singled to center to tie the game at 5-5. With two runners aboard, right fielder Julio Rodriguez drove in the game-winning run with an RBI-single up the middle. D.R. closer Jairo Asencio shut down Canada in the ninth, striking out all three batters to seal the 6-5 Dominican Republic victory. Prior to the contest, the Vice Mayor of Port St. Lucie and City Council member Shannon Martin threw out the ceremonial first pitch. #8 Venezuela 2 - #2 United States 4 ( Box Score ) After two scoreless innings of play, Venezuela plated the first run of the game on a solo home run to deep left by third baseman Hernán Pérez. The tide turned in favor of the United States in the bottom of the fourth as right fielder Eric Filia lifted a two-run home run over the right field fence to give the Stars and Stripes a 2-1 lead. An inning later, third baseman Todd Frazier connected for his third of four hits of the contest, using a ground rule double to plate left fielder Luke Williams for the 3-1 lead. Williams previously reached on a chopper through the right side of the infield. Venezuela cut the USA’s gap to one, 3-2 in the top of the sixth as Diego Rincones and Ramon Flores connected for back-to-back doubles. Rincones scored on Flores’ ground rule double that hit off the warning track and bounced over the right-center field fence. Frazier’s bat continued to guide the USA, giving the hosts a 4-2 lead in the seventh with a solo home run that bounced off the rooftop of the Jim Beam Bourbon Bar in Clover Park’s left field. USA’s Edwin Jackson, Jr. picked up the win in relief while David Robertson was credited with the save. In the decisive game, Frazier went 4-for-4, driving in two runs. The third baseman scored twice and finished a triple shy of the cycle. Overall, Frazier went 6-for-15 (.400 average) during the tournament, connecting for two doubles and two home runs that saw five runs driven in. The Point Pleasant, N.J., native also scored on six occasions. Prior to the contest, Port St. Lucie City Council member Stephanie Morgan, President/CEO of Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism Rick Hatcher, and Olympian, World Series Champion, and South Florida native Charles Johnson threw out the ceremonial first pitches. The complete results from the Baseball Americas Qualification Event for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad Tokyo 2020 can be accessed below: Game 1: Puerto Rico 2 - Dominican Republic 5 ( Box Score ) Game 2: Venezuela 6 - Cuba 5 ( Box Score ) Game 3: USA 7 - Nicaragua 1 ( Box Score ) Game 4: Colombia 0 - Canada 7 ( Box Score ) Game 5: Colombia 2 - Venezuela 3 ( Box Score ) Game 6: Nicaragua 7 - Puerto Rico 6 ( Box Score ) Game 7: Canada 6 - Cuba 5 ( Box Score ) Game 8: Dominican Republic 6 - United States 8 ( Box Score ) Game 9: Nicaragua 3 - Dominican Republic 13 ( Box Score ) Game 10: Canada 0 - Venezuela 5 ( Box Score ) Game 11 : Puerto Rico vs. USA - game canceled after four innings due to inclement weather Game 12: Cuba 16 - Colombia 3 ( Box Score ) Game 13: Dominican Republic 14 - Venezuela 4 ( Box Score ) Game 14: Canada 1 - United States 10 ( Box Score ) Game 15: Canada 5 - Dominican Republic 6 ( Box Score ) Game 16: Venezuela 2 - United States 4 ( Box Score ) About Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism (formerly Treasure Coast Sports Commission) offers event owners and managers access to outstanding sport facilities, special pricing on hotels from our partners and grants to help fund your event. Located on the East Central Coast of Florida comprising Indian River, St. Lucie and Martin Counties, the Treasure Coast is 45 minutes north of the Palm Beaches and the West Palm Beach International Airport, 90 minutes north of Ft. Lauderdale, 120 minutes north of Miami, and 120 minutes south of Orlando. Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism is the official home of the Florida Sports Hall of Fame, located at the MIDFLORIDA Event Center in Port St. Lucie. For more information, visit https://www.playtreasurecoastflorida.com .

USA ends Opening Round downing Puerto Rico 6-1 in Weather-Shortened Contest Media Contact: Jason Hendrix, media@playtreasurecoastflorida.com Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism contact: Ryan Strickland, 772-380-6221 or rstrickland@playtreasurecoastflorida.com Photo courtesy of Ryan Dowd #11 Puerto Rico 1 - #2 United States 6 ( Box Score ) PORT ST. LUCIE, FLA. – In the final game of Opening Round competition at the WBSC Baseball Americas Qualification Event, the United States improved to 3-0 on the tournament as they defeated Puerto 6-1 in a rain-shortened contest. Puerto Rico scored first in the third inning, using an RBI-single by third baseman Ivan de Jesus, Jr. to take a 1-0 lead. Team USA responded with two runs of its own in the bottom half of the inning as back-to-back RBI-doubles by catcher Tim Federowicz and shortstop Nick Allen gave the second-ranked squad the 2-1 advantage. Prior to a major summer storm halting the contest after the fourth inning, the USA tacked on four more runs for the 6-1 win. The runs came courtesy of a grand slam home run by Allen. Allen went 2-for-2 on the day, driving in five of the USA’s six runs. USA’s starter Simeon Woods Richardson was declared the winning pitcher, surrendering just one earned run on four hits while striking out five. Puerto Rico finished the WBSC Baseball Americas Qualification Event 0-3. Up Next Moving on to the Super Round are the United States (3-0), Venezuela (3-0), Canada (2-1) and Dominican Republic (2-1). Head-to-head contests among these teams from the Opening Round will carry over into the Super Round standings. Thursday is a rest day for three of the final four clubs that qualified for the Super Round. The first two games of the Super Round will take place at the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach Florida on Friday. On Saturday, June 5, the WBSC Baseball Americas Qualification Event for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad Tokyo 2020 ends at Clover Park in St. Lucie County. The team with the best Super Round record will be declared the winner and become the fifth National Team to advance to the Tokyo Olympic baseball tournament, joining world #1 Japan, #3 Korea, #5 Mexico and #18 Israel, who have already punched their ticket to the 2020 Tokyo Games. The second- and third-place finishers from the WBSC Americas Baseball Qualifier will move on to the WBSC Baseball Final Qualifier that takes place June 22-26 in Puebla, Mexico, at Estadio de Béisbol Hermanos Serdán, home of Mexican Baseball League’s Pericos de Puebla. The Final Qualifier will also include Australia, Netherlands and Chinese Taipei. The winner of the Final Qualifier will earn the sixth and final berth into the Games of the XXXII Olympiad Tokyo 2020. The new dates and location of the final Olympic baseball qualifier follows the decision of the WBSC Executive Board on May 20 to relocate the tournament from Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium to Mexico, in agreement with prior host Chinese Taipei Baseball Association. The complete Clover Park schedule for the Baseball Americas Qualification Event for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad Tokyo 2020 can be accessed below: Game Schedule at Clover Park Game 1 - FINAL: Puerto Rico 2 - Dominican Republic 5 ( Box Score ) Game 3 - FINAL: USA 7 – Nicaragua 1 ( Box Score ) Game 5 - FINAL: Colombia 2 - Venezuela 3 ( Box Score ) Game 7 - FINAL: Canada 6 - Cuba 5 ( Box Score ) Game 9 - FINAL: Nicaragua 3 - Dominican Republic 13 ( Box Score ) Game 11 - FINAL: Puerto Rico 1 - USA 6 ( Box Score ) Game 15: Canada vs. Dominican Republic, June 5 at 1:00 p.m. Game 16: Venezuela vs. United States, June 5 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets for the WBSC Baseball Americas Qualifier for Tokyo can be purchased by visiting https://oaqbaseball.com . All games are television on ESPN+. About Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism (formerly Treasure Coast Sports Commission) offers event owners and managers access to outstanding sport facilities, special pricing on hotels from our partners and grants to help fund your event. Located on the East Central Coast of Florida comprising Indian River, St. Lucie and Martin Counties, the Treasure Coast is 45 minutes north of the Palm Beaches and the West Palm Beach International Airport, 90 minutes north of Ft. Lauderdale, 120 minutes north of Miami, and 120 minutes south of Orlando. Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism is the official home of the Florida Sports Hall of Fame, located at the MIDFLORIDA Event Center in Port St. Lucie. For more information, visit https://www.playtreasurecoastflorida.com .

Olympian and South Florida Native Charles Johnson to Throw First Pitch on June 5: Venezuela vs. USA Media Contact: Jason Hendrix, media@playtreasurecoastflorida.com Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism contact: Ryan Strickland, 772-380-6221 or rstrickland@playtreasurecoastflorida.com WHO: Charles Johnson WHAT: First pitch at WBSC Baseball Americas Qualification Event for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad Tokyo 2020, Venezuela vs. USA WHEN: Saturday, June 5 at 7:00 p.m. WHERE: Clover Park, 31 Piazza Dr., Port St. Lucie, Fla. 34986 TICKETS AND MORE INFO: https://oaqbaseball.com/ PORT ST. LUCIE, FLA. – On Saturday, June 5 at 7:00 p.m., Olympian, former Major Leaguer, and South Florida native Charles Johnson will step to the mound at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie to throw out a ceremonial first pitch prior to the Venezuela vs. USA match up. The contest wraps up competition of the WBSC Baseball Americas Qualification Event for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad Tokyo 2020. Johnson spent 12 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), playing 1,188 games where be compiled a .245 career batting average that produced 940 hits. The catcher connected for 167 home runs and drove in 570 runs. As a two-time All-Star, Johnson tallied four Gold Gloves during his career. In 1995, he became the fourth catcher in Major League history to win a Gold Glove Award in his rookie season, joining Johnny Bench, Carlton Fisk and Sandy Alomar, Jr. He was a scholastic standout at Fort Pierce Westwood High School where he was a three-time All-State selection and was named the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Florida in 1989. The catcher played collegiately at the University of Miami. He was drafted by the Florida Marlins in the first round of the 1992 MLB Draft and was a member of the 1992 USA Olympic Baseball team that competed in the Barcelona Games of the XXV Olympiad. The Fort Pierce, Fla., native was a member of six MLB organizations during his 12 seasons. He debuted on May 6, 1994, leading the Marlins to a 9-5 win over the Philadelphia Phillies, where he went 2-for-3 with a home run. Three seasons later in 1997, Johnson would play an instrumental role in the Marlins’ first-ever World Series championship. In the ninth inning of game seven, Johnson would use a single to move teammate Moises Alou into scoring position to tie the game, sending it to extra innings where the Marlins would pull out the 3-2 win over the Cleveland Indians on a single by Edgar Rentería in the bottom of the 11th. Johnson played with the Marlins from 1994 through 1998, before the storied “Rent a Team” trade sent him to the Los Angeles Dodgers for the remainder of the 1998 season. In the trade, the Marlins sent Manuel Barrios, Bobby Bonilla, Jim Eisenreich and Gary Sheffield to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for Mike Piazza and Todd Zeile. The Hurricane then signed as a free agent with the Baltimore Orioles, where he played a season and a half before joining the Chicago White Sox. Johnson returned home as a free agent acquisition of the Marlins during the 2001 offseason. After a two-year stint with the Colorado Rockies (2003-04), Johnson finished his career with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2005. He is a member of the Portland Sea Dogs Hall of Fame, having played with them in the minors before being called up by the Marlins. Johnson is also a 2002 inductee to the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame. His #23 jersey retired on the outfield wall of Mark Light Stadium in a ceremony held during the Miami vs. Florida game on February 10, 2002. Tickets for the WBSC Baseball Americas Qualifier for Tokyo can be purchased by visiting https://oaqbaseball.com . About Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism (formerly Treasure Coast Sports Commission) offers event owners and managers access to outstanding sport facilities, special pricing on hotels from our partners and grants to help fund your event. Located on the East Central Coast of Florida comprising Indian River, St. Lucie and Martin Counties, the Treasure Coast is 45 minutes north of the Palm Beaches and the West Palm Beach International Airport, 90 minutes north of Ft. Lauderdale, 120 minutes north of Miami, and 120 minutes south of Orlando. Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism is the official home of the Florida Sports Hall of Fame, located at the MIDFLORIDA Event Center in Port St. Lucie. For more information, visit https://www.playtreasurecoastflorida.com .

Dominican Republic clinches final spot, joins USA, Venezuela and Canada in WBSC Baseball Americas Qualification Event Super Round Media Contact: Jason Hendrix, media@playtreasurecoastflorida.com Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism contact: Ryan Strickland, 772-380-6221 or rstrickland@playtreasurecoastflorida.com Photo courtesy of Ryan Dowd PORT ST. LUCIE, FLA. – The Dominican Republic has punched its ticket and will join the United States, Venezuela and Canada in the Super Round of the WBSC Baseball Americas Qualification Event for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad Tokyo. In partnership with St. Lucie County and Visit St. Lucie, the Play Treasure Coast Sports Commission has served as the event’s host and will host the Super Round championship games on Saturday, June 5. #15 Nicaragua 3 - #10 Dominican Republic 13 (8 innings) – ( Box Score ) In what was a battle for the final spot in Super Round, the Dominican Republic run-ruled Nicaragua 13-3 in the eighth inning to solidify the fourth and final spot in the weekend’s decisive playoff. Nicaragua scored in the opening frame to take a 1-0 lead off a sacrifice fly by designated hitter Jilton Calderon. The advantage was short lived as the Dominican Republic took its first lead of the game, 2-1, with a two-run home run by right fielder Julio Rodriguez in its half of the first. Not looking back, the 10th-ranked club increased its gap to 5-1 two innings later as centerfielder Luís Liberato sent a two-out, three-run, opposite field home run to deep left field. In the top of the fourth, Nicaragua chipped down D.R.’s lead to 5-2 with an RBI-single by Norlando Valle. The rally was shot lived as the Dominicans broke things open with a four-run fifth inning, increasing the lead to 9-2. Shortstop Jeison Guzmán made it 7-2 with a two-run double while second baseman Gustavo Núñez added two more insurance runs, 9-2, with a single to right. In the top of the seventh, Brandon Leyton used a sacrifice fly to drive in Nicaragua’s third and final run of the day, as the fifteenth-ranked squad continued to trail D.R. 9-3. The Dominican bats went back to work in bottom portion of the seventh as Yefri Pérez and Rodriguez had back-to-back solo home runs, making it 11-3. Rodriguez’s blast in the seventh was his second home run of the day and sixth hit of the tournament. The right-hander went 3-for-5 at the plate, driving in two runs. The game ended in the bottom of the eighth with a 13-3 run difference rule victory, a 10-run lead after seven innings, in favor of the Dominicans. Designated hitter Juan Francisco led off the inning with a solo home run to dead-center field while Guzmán ended the contest with an RBI-single through the left side of the infield. #11 Puerto Rico vs. #2 United States Due to inclement weather in the Port St. Lucie area, the Puerto Rico versus United States game was postponed and rescheduled for 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 3. Tickets for Wednesday night’s game will be honored on Thursday at Clover Park. Group B Results In the battle of the unbeatens, Venezuela pulled out 5-0 win over Canada to claim the top spot in the Group B pool. Both squads clinched a spot in the Super Round on Tuesday and will advance to the weekend’s decisive series. After a 30-minute rain delay, Venezuela scored first, putting two runs on the scoreboard in the second inning. The eighth-ranked Venezuelans received back-to-back RBI-singles from centerfielder Ramos Flores and third baseman Yonny Hernandez to take the 2-0 lead over #12 Canada. Designated hitter Carlos Pérez added to the Venezuelan lead with a two-run home run in the fourth, making it 4-0. Of note, Venezuela’s scoring effort and early advantage in the second inning was the first time that Canada had trailed in a contest all tournament. Shortstop Juniel Querecuto made it 5-0 in the seventh with a solo home run to right. The Venezuelan pitching staff, including Enmanuel de Jesus, Oddanier Mosqueda, Harold Chirnos and Henry Centeno, combined for the shutout, holding Canada to just one hit. De Jesus surrendered the lone hit in four innings of work, recording three strikeouts and three walks. In the final game of the evening, Cuba picked up its lone victory of the tournament, routing Colombia 16-3 in a seven-inning run-rule victory. The Cubans recorded 18 hits in the contest that saw shortstop Erisbel Arruebarruena go 4-for-5 on the night, driving in four runs while scoring twice. Left fielder Raico Santos finished a double shy of the cycle, producing a 3-for-5, four RBI showing at the plate. Going 1-2 in the opening round, Cuba failed to qualify for the Olympics for the first time since baseball was recognized as competitive sport, dating back to the Games of the XXV Olympiad in 1992. Up Next Moving on to the Super Round are the United States (2-0), Venezuela (3-0), Canada (2-1), and Dominican Republic (2-1). Head-to-head contests among these teams from the opening round will carry over into the Super Round standings. Thursday is a rest day for three of the final four clubs that qualified for the Super Round. The first two games of the Super Round will take place at the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach Florida on Friday. On Saturday, June 5, the WBSC Baseball Americas Qualification Event for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad Tokyo 2020 ends at Clover Park in St. Lucie County. The team with the best Super Round record will be declared the winner and become the fifth National Team to advance to the Tokyo Olympic baseball tournament, joining world #1 Japan, #3 Korea, #5 Mexico and #18 Israel, who have already punched their ticket to the 2020 Tokyo Games. The complete Clover Park schedule for the Baseball Americas Qualification Event for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad Tokyo 2020 can be accessed below: Game Schedule at Clover Park Game 1 - FINAL: Puerto Rico 2 - Dominican Republic 5 ( Box Score ) Game 3 - FINAL: USA 7 – Nicaragua 1 ( Box Score ) Game 5 - FINAL: Colombia 2 - Venezuela 3 ( Box Score ) Game 7 - FINAL: Canada 6 - Cuba 5 ( Box Score ) Game 9 - FINAL: Nicaragua 3 - Dominican Republic 13 ( Box Score ) Game 11: Puerto Rico vs. USA, June 3 at 11:00 a.m. Game 15: Dominican Republic vs. Canada, June 5 at 1:00 p.m. Game 16: United States vs. Venezuela, June 5 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets for the WBSC Baseball Americas Qualifier for Tokyo can be purchased by visiting https://oaqbaseball.com . All games are television on ESPN+. About Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism (formerly Treasure Coast Sports Commission) offers event owners and managers access to outstanding sport facilities, special pricing on hotels from our partners and grants to help fund your event. Located on the East Central Coast of Florida comprising Indian River, St. Lucie and Martin Counties, the Treasure Coast is 45 minutes north of the Palm Beaches and the West Palm Beach International Airport, 90 minutes north of Ft. Lauderdale, 120 minutes north of Miami, and 120 minutes south of Orlando. Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism is the official home of the Florida Sports Hall of Fame, located at the MIDFLORIDA Event Center in Port St. Lucie. For more information, visit https://www.playtreasurecoastflorida.com .

#8 Venezuela and #12 Canada punch tickets to Super Rounds of WBSC Baseball Americas Qualification Event for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad Tokyo 2020 Media Contact: Jason Hendrix, media@playtreasurecoastflorida.com Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism contact: Ryan Strickland, 772-380-6221 or rstrickland@playtreasurecoastflorida.com Photo courtesy of Ryan Dowd PORT ST. LUCIE, FLA. – Day two of the WBSC Baseball Americas Qualification Event for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad Tokyo 2020 at Clover Park in St. Lucie County saw Group B members #8 Venezuela and #12 Canada clinch their spot in the Super Round with wins on Tuesday. In partnership with St. Lucie County and Visit St. Lucie, the Play Treasure Coast Sports Commission has served as the event’s host and will host the Super Roud championship games on Saturday, June 5. #14 Colombia 2 - #8 Venezuela 3 – ( Box Score ) Team Venezuela will enter day three of the WBSC Baseball Americas Qualification Event with a 2-0 record as a walk-off home run by right fielder Diego Incones lifted the eighth-ranked club to the 3-2 win over #14 Colombia. Defensive miscues by Colombia in the bottom of the fifth inning broke up what was a pitchers’ duel between Colombia’s Randy Consuegra and Venezuela’s Erick Leal. After Venezuela’s Alexander Palma led the frame off with a single to right, first baseman Luis Castro took four straight pitches to put two runners on. After a sacrifice bunt by centerfielder Ramon Flores moved the runners up 90 feet, a bobbled ball by the Colombian shortstop allowed both Palma and Castro to score, giving Venezuela the 2-0 edge. Using the small ball strategy, Colombia cut the deficit in half, 2-1, in the top of eighth. Left fielder Derwin Pomare led the inning off with a single to right and advanced to second with a mirrored singled by designated hitter Jerry Downs, putting two runners on. After right fielder Brallan Perez successfully converted a sacrifice bunt, centerfielder Brayan Buelvas drove in Colombia’s first run of the tournament with a ground ball to short. The final inning had a flair of dramatics as an ejection of the Venezuelan reliever Adrián Almedia, for a foreign substance, required a cold reliever in Gabriel Moya to enter the game. On the third pitch from Moya, Colombia’s third baseman Jordan Diaz rocketed a solo shot off the scoreboard in left field to tie the game at 2-2. With a walk-off win in mind, the eighth-ranked Venezuela squad sent Diego Rincones to the plate. On the second pitch of the inning, Rincones handed the Venezuelans the 3-2 victory as he ripped a solo shot over the left field fence. Notably, starter Leal had a standout performance on the mound for Venezuela, tossing six shutout innings. The right-handed hurler allowed just two hits in the contest, striking out six of the 21 batters he faced. With its win, Venezuela clinched the first Super Round spot for Group B. Prior to Tuesday’s contest between Colombia and Venezuela, former Major Leaguer and Venezuelan Tony Armas, Jr. threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Armas spent 10 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), pitching for the Montreal Expos (1999-2004), Washington Nationals (2005-06), Pittsburgh Pirates (2007), and New York Mets (2008). #12 Canada 6 - #7 Cuba 5 – ( Box Score ) Baseball Canada improved to 2-0 on Tuesday, downing seventh-ranked Cuba 6-5. The win clinched Canada’s spot in the Super Round starting Friday. After an hour and 45-minute rain delay, Canada came out swinging to take an early 3-0 lead in the first. After second baseman Wesley Darvill tallied a leadoff single, third baseman Eric Wood drove home the first run of the contest with RBI-double off the left field wall. Later in the inning, first baseman Connor Panas knocked in the second run of the contest with an RBI-single while catcher Kellin Deglan squeaked a single through the middle of the infield to make it 3-0 in Canada’s favor. The hit prompted an early exit for the Cuban starting pitcher Carlos Viera, as the right-hander lasted through just six batters, recording only two outs in the game. An RBI-single by Panas in the top of the fourth would push Canada’s tilt to 4-0. Twelfth-ranked Canada surrendered its first run of the WBSC Baseball Americas Qualification Event during the bottom of the fifth inning as an RBI-double by designated hitter Yordanis Samon of Cuba cut the lead to 4-1. Canada would get its four-run advantage, 5-1, back an inning later with a solo home run by right fielder Michael Crouse. In the bottom of the seventh, Cuba chipped away at Canada’s lead, narrowing the gap to 5-3. Capitalizing on defensive choices and miscues by Canada, the Caribbean-based club used a ground ball by second baseman Yadir Orestes Mujica Diaz and an RBI-single by Samon to cut the deficit to two. That gap lasted a half inning before Canada pushed its lead back to three, 6-3, on an RBI-single by left fielder Jacob Robson. In the final frame, Cuba mustered a two-run rally, but it was stifled in relief as Canada pulled out the 6-5 victory. Group B Results Fifteenth-ranked Nicaragua bounced back from its 7-1 loss to Team USA on Monday with a 7-6 win over Puerto Rico. Designated hitter Jilton Calderon gave the Nicaraguan club a 1-0 lead with an RBI-single in the first while catcher Luis Alen pushed the advantage to 2-0 an inning later with a solo home run over the left field fence. Puerto Rico responded in the bottom of the second, plating five runs on four hits. The rally included a two-run blast over the left field by right fielder Jesmuel Valentin that tied the game at 2-2. While a two-RBI single by third baseman Ivan de Jesus, Jr. gave Puerto Rico the 4-2 lead, defensive miscues later in the inning allowed the squad to score its fifth run of the contest. Nicaragua made a late offensive surge in the eighth that sent the game into extra innings. With two runners on, infielder Benjamin Algeria doubled to left-center field, driving in the third Nicaraguan run of the day. Shortly after, a two-run single by designated hitter Edgard Montiel tied the game at 5-5. In extra innings, Nicaragua took its second lead of the game, 7-5, off a wild pitch and sacrifice fly to left by Juan Montes. While Puerto Rico managed to cut the lead to one, 7-6, in its final frame, the late rally wasn’t enough to pull out the victory. In the nightcap at FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, the United States rallied to defeat Dominican Republic 8-6, moving to 2-0 in the tournament. After a 47-minute rain delay, Team USA opened the contest with a two-out rally to take a 2-0 lead in the first. Third baseman Todd Frazier sliced a double down the left field line for the USA’s first baserunner of the game. After a six-pitch walk to right fielder Eric Filia, first baseman Triston Casas powered a double to the warning track, driving in the first two runs of the evening for the United States. While the Dominican Republic cut the USA’s lead in half, 2-1, the next inning with a solo home run by designated hitter Juan Francisco, the Stars and Stripes responded with a two-spot in the bottom of the fourth to push their advantage to 4-1. Catcher Mark Kolozsvary provided the fireworks with a two-run home run to deep left field. The knock was Kolozsvary’s second home run of the tournament. The D.R. battled back in the top half of the fifth to bring the USA’s lead to just a run, 4-3. With two outs in the frame, centerfielder Luis Liberato reached on a six-pitch walk and moved to third when shortstop Gustavo Núñez sent a double down the left field line. On a 3-2 fastball, second baseman Emilio Bonifacio lifted a triple to the right-center field gap, emptying the bases. The rally continued into the sixth inning where the 10th-ranked Dominicans went ahead 5-4. Right fielder Julio Rodriguez opened the inning with a single and would touch home after third baseman Diego Goris smashed a two-run home run to deep left, giving the Dominican Republic its first and only lead of the contest. The second-ranked USA squad did not let the D.R.’s lead last long as it tallied four runs in the bottom of the sixth to regain an 8-5 lead. While the Dominicans attempted a heroic rally in the final frame, a solo home run by Francisco was not enough to overcome the USA’s sixth inning rally, falling 8-6. With the win, Team USA clinched the third spot of the Super Round. During pregame festivities, three-time World Series champion, former Boston Red Sox all-star, and Dominican Republic native David Ortiz threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Hall of Famer, two-time World Series champion, and Cincinnati Reds legendary catcher Johnny Bench. Up Next St. Lucie County and Clover Park welcome back Group A teams on Wednesday to wrap up the final two games of the opening round. Nicaragua will battle the Dominican Republic at 1 p.m. with Puerto Rico taking on host USA in the nightcap at 7 p.m. Prior to the Puerto Rico vs. USA contest, Olympian, former Major Leaguer, and South Florida native Charles Johnson will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. The complete schedule for the Baseball Americas Qualification Event for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad Tokyo 2020 can be accessed below: Game Schedule at Clover Park Game 1 - FINAL: Puerto Rico 2 - Dominican Republic 5 ( Box Score ) Game 3 - FINAL: USA 7 – Nicaragua 1 ( Box Score ) Game 5 - FINAL: Colombia 2 - Venezuela 3 ( Box Score ) Game 7 - FINAL: Canada 6 - Cuba 5 ( Box Score ) Game 9: Nicaragua vs. Dominican Republic, June 2 at 1:00 p.m. Game 11: Puerto Rico vs. USA, June 2 at 7:00 p.m. Game 15: Group A2 vs. Group B2, June 5 at 1:00 p.m. Game 16: Group A1 vs. Group B1, June 5 at 7:00 p.m. After group play concludes on Wednesday, June 2, the top two finishers from each group will advance to the Super Round, where they will each play two games. Head-to-head contests among these teams from the opening round will carry over into the Super Round standings. The team with the best Super Round record will be declared the winner and become the fifth National Team to advance to the Tokyo Olympic baseball tournament, joining world #1 Japan, #3 Korea, #5 Mexico and #18 Israel, who have already punched their ticket to the 2020 Tokyo Games. The second and third place teams will qualify for the WBSC Baseball Final Qualifier, scheduled from June 16-20 in Taiwan at Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium and Douliou Baseball Stadium in Douliu City. Tickets for the WBSC Baseball Americas Qualifier for Tokyo can be purchased by visiting https://oaqbaseball.com . All games are television on ESPN+. About Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism (formerly Treasure Coast Sports Commission) offers event owners and managers access to outstanding sport facilities, special pricing on hotels from our partners and grants to help fund your event. Located on the East Central Coast of Florida comprising Indian River, St. Lucie and Martin Counties, the Treasure Coast is 45 minutes north of the Palm Beaches and the West Palm Beach International Airport, 90 minutes north of Ft. Lauderdale, 120 minutes north of Miami, and 120 minutes south of Orlando. Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism is the official home of the Florida Sports Hall of Fame, located at the MIDFLORIDA Event Center in Port St. Lucie. For more information, visit https://www.playtreasurecoastflorida.com .

Dominican Republic and USA capture wins on Day 1 of WBSC action at Clover Park Media Contact: Jason Hendrix, media@playtreasurecoastflorida.com Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism contact: Ryan Strickland, 772-380-6221 or rstrickland@playtreasurecoastflorida.com Photo courtesy of Ryan Dowd PORT ST. LUCIE, FLA. – The WBSC Baseball Americas Qualification Event for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad Tokyo 2020 at Clover Park in St. Lucie County saw higher-ranked seeds, in #10 Dominican Republic and #2 United States, take wins in the opening day of competition. The Dominican Republic outlasted #11 Puerto Rico while the host, Team USA, used an early lead to down #15 Nicaragua 7-1. #10 Dominican Republic 5 - #11 Puerto Rico 2: ( Box Score ) Prior to the opening contest of the WBSC tournament, Major League Baseball Hall of Famer and Puerto Rico native Iván “Pudge” Rodríguez was on hand to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. The Dominican Republic charged out the gate in the opening frame. Three straight two-out singles gave the D.R. the 1-0 lead. An infield chopper by right fielder Julio Rodriguez recorded the first hit of the tournament. Two pitches later, a slice to left field by first baseman José Bautista put runners on the corners. On the first pitch designated hitter Juan Francisco saw, the left hander slapped a liner up the middle to plate Rodriguez, giving the D.R. an early 1-0 edge. Puerto Rico bounced back an inning later to take the 2-1 advantage. After a one-out single by first baseman Kevin Luciano, designated hitter Bultron Reynaldo Luis Navarro crushed a two-run home run over the left field fence. In the bottom of the third, the 10th-ranked Dominican Republic squad used a two-out RBI-double by third baseman Diego Goris to tie the game at 2-2. The gapper plated Rodriguez, who led off the inning with his second single of the day. Three innings later, Dominican Republic rallied to take the 4-2 lead. Centerfielder Luís Liberato lifted a solo home run to deep center field, making it 3-2, while an RBI-double by second baseman Emilio Bonifacio scored Gustavo Núñez, who reached previously with a triple down the right field line. Two defensive miscues by the Puerto Ricans allowed D.R. to add an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh, increasing its tilt to 5-2. Núñez singled up the middle to drive in the fifth Dominican Republic run of the contest. Raúl Valdés picked up the victory in the 5-2 win, going seven innings, as the left-hander surrendered just two earned runs on three hits while striking out five. Puerto Rico’s skipper Juan Gonzalez used seven pitchers in the game, as Luis Leroy Cruz was credited with the loss. #2 USA 7 - #15 Nicaragua 1: ( Box Score ) Prior to the night cap of the WBSC tournament, former Major Leaguer and Nicaraguan native Dennis “El Presidente” Martinez and Dr. Timothy Moore, the President of Indian River State College, were on hand to throw out the ceremonial first pitches. Team USA jumped out to quick 2-0 lead in the first inning of play, capitalizing on two singles and a wild pitch to start the game. With runners on second and third, third baseman Todd Frazier gave the Stars and Stripes the 1-0 lead, lifting a sacrifice fly to center. Two pitches later, right fielder Eric Filia slapped an RBI-single to shallow right, scoring centerfielder Jaren Duran from third. Nicaragua cut the deficit in half, 2-1, in the bottom of the second inning as a bases loaded chopper to second by second baseman Benjamin Alegria scored catcher Melvin Novoa. The second-ranked USA squad regained a two-run advantage, 3-1, in the top of the fourth as catcher Mark Kolozsvary led off the inning with a solo shot off the batter’s eye in center field at Clover Park. Later in the sixth, Team USA padded its lead with an RBI-single by Filia, bringing the advantage to 4-1. In the ninth, Team USA added three insurance runs to clinch the 7-1 win over Nicaragua. An RBI-single by left fielder Luke Williams and two-run single by Duran wrapped up the Stars and Stripes victory. Team USA’s starting pitcher Matthew Liberatore picked up the win, allowing one earned run on five hits. The left-hander struck out four, recording just one walk in five innings. USA relievers Brandon Dickson, Anthony Gose, and Marc Rzepczynski were unhittable, striking out a combined five batters in four innings of work. Nicaragua’s Carlos Teller was credited with the loss as the southpaw hurler surrendered three earned runs on seven hits, lasting just three and one-third innings. Group B Results In other WBSC action at the FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, eighth-ranked Venezuela outlasted a ninth-inning rally to upset seventh-ranked Cuba 6-5. During the contest, Venezuela’s designated hitter Carlos Perez had a four-RBI day, going 3-for-4 at the plate where he tallied a three-run home run and an RBI-single in the squad’s 6-5 win. Venezuela’s Robinson Chirinos also displayed power at the plate, crushing a solo home run over the left field fence in the top of the eighth. Canada had the top highlight of day one of competition as Andrew Albers, Brendan McGuigan, and Ben Onyshko combined for a no-hitter en route to the 7-0 win. Albers, who carried a no-hitter through seven innings before being relieved by manager Ernie Witt, silenced the Colombian bats, tallying seven strikeouts. The 13th-ranked club plated six runs in the first two innings of play and added another off a solo home run by third baseman Eric Wood in the seventh inning to defeat #15 Colombia. Notably, left fielder Jacob Robson drove in three runs in the second inning with a triple. Up Next All four squads of Group A head south to West Palm Beach on Tuesday, June 1 in day two of the tournament. Puerto Rico will serve as the home team against Nicaragua while the United States will host the Dominican Republic. Clover Park will welcome Group B squads, in #13 Canada, #15 Colombia, #7 Cuba, and #8 Venezuela, on Tuesday. The complete schedule for the Baseball Americas Qualification Event for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad Tokyo 2020 can be accessed below: Game Schedule at Clover Park Game 1 - FINAL: Puerto Rico 2 - Dominican Republic 5 ( Box Score ) Game 3 - FINAL: USA 7 – Nicaragua 1 ( Box Score ) Game 5: Colombia vs. Venezuela, June 1 at 1:00 p.m. Game 7: Canada vs. Cuba, June 1 at 7:00 p.m. Game 9: Nicaragua vs. Dominican Republic, June 2 at 1:00 p.m. Game 11: Puerto Rico vs. USA, June 2 at 7:00 p.m. Game 15: Group A2 vs. Group B2, June 5 at 1:00 p.m. Game 16: Group A1 vs. Group B1, June 5 at 7:00 p.m. After group play concludes on Wednesday, June 2, the top two finishers from each group will advance to the Super Round, where they will each play two games. Head-to-head contests among these teams from the opening round will carry over into the Super Round standings. The team with the best Super Round record will be declared the winner and become the fifth National Team to advance to the Tokyo Olympic baseball tournament, joining world #1 Japan, #3 Korea, #5 Mexico and #18 Israel, who have already punched their ticket to the 2020 Tokyo Games. The second and third place teams will qualify for the WBSC Baseball Final Qualifier, scheduled from June 16-20 in Taiwan at Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium and Douliou Baseball Stadium in Douliu City. Tickets for the WBSC Baseball Americas Qualifier for Tokyo can be purchased by visiting https://oaqbaseball.com . About Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism (formerly Treasure Coast Sports Commission) offers event owners and managers access to outstanding sport facilities, special pricing on hotels from our partners and grants to help fund your event. Located on the East Central Coast of Florida comprising Indian River, St. Lucie and Martin Counties, the Treasure Coast is 45 minutes north of the Palm Beaches and the West Palm Beach International Airport, 90 minutes north of Ft. Lauderdale, 120 minutes north of Miami, and 120 minutes south of Orlando. Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism is the official home of the Florida Sports Hall of Fame, located at the MIDFLORIDA Event Center in Port St. Lucie. For more information, visit https://www.playtreasurecoastflorida.com .

Iván “Pudge” Rodríguez to Throw First Pitch on May 31: Puerto Rico vs. Dominican Republic Media Contact: Jason Hendrix, media@playtreasurecoastflorida.com Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism contact: Ryan Strickland, 772-380-6221 or rstrickland@playtreasurecoastflorida.com WHO: Iván “Pudge” Rodríguez WHAT: First pitch at WBSC Baseball Americas Qualification Event for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad Tokyo 2020, Puerto Rico vs. Dominican Republic WHEN: Monday, May 31, 2021 – 1:00 p.m. WHERE: Clover Park, 31 Piazza Dr., Port St. Lucie, Fla. 34986 TICKETS AND MORE INFO: https://oaqbaseball.com/ PORT ST. LUCIE, FLA. – On Memorial Day, Major League Baseball Hall of Famer and Puerto Rico native Iván “Pudge” Rodríguez, will step to the mound at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie to throw out a ceremonial first pitch prior to the Puerto Rico vs. Dominican Republic contest at 1:00 p.m. The contest will be the first game of the first day of competition of the WBSC Baseball Americas Qualification Event for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad Tokyo 2020. Rodriguez spent 21 seasons in the MLB, playing 2,543 games where be compiled a .296 career batting average that produced 2,844 hits. The catcher connected for 311 home runs and drove in 1,332 runs. As a 14-time All-Star, Pudge would tally 13 Gold Gloves and seven Silver Slugger awards during his career. The Manati, Puerto Rico native was a member of six MLB organizations during his 21 seasons. He debuted with the Texas Rangers on June 20, 1991, driving in two of squad’s seven runs in their 7-3 win over the Chicago White Sox. In 1999, Iván was tabbed the American League’s Most Valuable Player. After 12 seasons with the Rangers, Pudge would sign a one-year deal with the Florida Marlins for the 2003 season. Rodriguez would later return to the Rangers in 2009 for a single-season stint. The 2003 season was a special year for the catcher as Rodriguez would help guide the Marlins to the franchise’s second-ever World Series crown. The Marlins outlasted the New York Yankees to win the series in six game (4-2). Pudge was also named the National League Championship Series MVP en route the Marlins’ historic win over the Chicago Cubs to clinch the NL pennant. In the 2004, Rodriguez signed with the Detroit Tigers and would spend the next five seasons with the club. Pudge made a return to the World Series in 2006, but his Tigers fell to the St. Louis Cardinals. After a brief 33 game stint with the Yankees, Rodriguez would finish out his career with the Houston Astros (2009) and Washington Nationals (2010-11), appearing in his final game on September 28, 2011, against the Marlins. In 2017, Rodriguez was inducted as a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Notably, the Texas Rangers retired his #7 jersey in 2017 as well. The complete schedule for the Baseball Americas Qualification Event for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad Tokyo 2020 can be accessed below: Game Schedule at Clover Park Game 1: Puerto Rico vs. Dominican Republic, May 31 at 1:00 p.m. Game 3: USA vs. Nicaragua, May 31 at 7:00 p.m. Game 5: Colombia vs. Venezuela, June 1 at 1:00 p.m. Game 7: Canada vs. Cuba, June 1 at 7:00 p.m. Game 9: Nicaragua vs. Dominican Republic, June 2 at 1:00 p.m. Game 11: Puerto Rico vs. USA, June 2 at 7:00 p.m. Game 15: Group A2 vs. Group B2, June 5 at 1:00 p.m. Game 16: Group A1 vs. Group B1, June 5 at 7:00 p.m. After group play concludes on Wednesday, June 2, the top two finishers from each group will advance to the Super Round, where they will each play two games. Head-to-head contests among these teams from the opening round will carry over into the Super Round standings. The team with the best Super Round record will be declared the winner and become the fifth National Team to advance to the Tokyo Olympic baseball tournament, joining world #1 Japan, #3 Korea, #5 Mexico and #18 Israel, who have already punched their ticket to the 2020 Tokyo Games. The second and third place teams will qualify for the WBSC Baseball Final Qualifier, scheduled from June 16-20 in Taiwan at Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium and Douliou Baseball Stadium in Douliu City. Tickets for the WBSC Baseball Americas Qualifier for Tokyo can be purchased by visiting https://oaqbaseball.com . About Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism (formerly Treasure Coast Sports Commission) offers event owners and managers access to outstanding sport facilities, special pricing on hotels from our partners and grants to help fund your event. Located on the East Central Coast of Florida comprising Indian River, St. Lucie and Martin Counties, the Treasure Coast is 45 minutes north of the Palm Beaches and the West Palm Beach International Airport, 90 minutes north of Ft. Lauderdale, 120 minutes north of Miami, and 120 minutes south of Orlando. Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism is the official home of the Florida Sports Hall of Fame, located at the MIDFLORIDA Event Center in Port St. Lucie. For more information, visit https://www.playtreasurecoastflorida.com .

Dennis “El Presidente” Martinez to Throw First Pitch on May 31: USA vs. Nicaragua Media Contact: Jason Hendrix, media@playtreasurecoastflorida.com Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism contact: Ryan Strickland, 772-380-6221 or rstrickland@playtreasurecoastflorida.com WHO: Dennis “El Presidente” Martinez WHAT: First pitch at WBSC Baseball Americas Qualification Event for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad Tokyo 2020, USA vs. Nicaragua WHEN: Monday, May 31, 2021 – 7:00 p.m. WHERE: Clover Park, 31 Piazza Dr., Port St. Lucie, Fla. 34986 TICKETS AND MORE INFO: https://oaqbaseball.com/ PORT ST. LUCIE, FLA. – On Memorial Day, former Major Leaguer and Nicaraguan native Dennis “El Presidente” Martinez, will step to the mound at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie to throw out a ceremonial first pitch prior to the USA vs. Nicaragua contest at 7:00 p.m. The contest will be the second game of the first day of competition of the WBSC Baseball Americas Qualification Event for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad Tokyo 2020. Martinez spent 23 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), compiling 245 wins and 3.70 career earned run average (ERA). The right-hander struck out 2,149 batters and was a fourth-time All-Star (1990-92, 1995). The Granada, Nicaragua native was a member of five MLB organizations during his 23 seasons. He debuted with the Baltimore Orioles on September 143, 1976, picking up a win against the Detroit Tigers. After 11 seasons with the Orioles, Martinez moved north to Montreal where he spent the next eight seasons of his career with the Expos. A career highpoint for Martinez came on July 28, 1991, against the Los Angeles Dodgers. El Presidente would use just 96 pitches, 66 strikes and 30 balls, to hurl a perfect game. This feat was the first-ever perfect game recorded by a Latin American born pitcher and 13th all-time in MLB history. Team USA’s manager, Mike Scioscia, was also a part of the game as the starting catcher for the Dodgers. In his final five seasons of play, Martinez spent three seasons with the Cleveland Indians (1994-96) and a single-season stint with both the Seattle Mariners (1997) and Atlanta Braves (1998) before appearing in his final game on September 27, 1998, against the New York Mets. Martinez was the seventh pitcher in MLB history to have won 100 games in both the National and American leagues, joining Jim Bunning, Ferguson (Fergie) Jenkins, Al Orth, Gaylord Perry, Nolan Ryan, and Cy Young. Since then, only Kevin Brown and Randy Johnson have joined the list. In 2002, El Presidente was tabbed as a member of the Orioles Hall of Fame. Fourteen years later, Martinez was inducted to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame (2016) for his time with the Expos. The complete schedule for the Baseball Americas Qualification Event for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad Tokyo 2020 can be accessed below: Game Schedule at Clover Park Game 1: Puerto Rico vs. Dominican Republic, May 31 at 1:00 p.m. Game 3: USA vs. Nicaragua, May 31 at 7:00 p.m. Game 5: Colombia vs. Venezuela, June 1 at 1:00 p.m. Game 7: Canada vs. Cuba, June 1 at 7:00 p.m. Game 9: Nicaragua vs. Dominican Republic, June 2 at 1:00 p.m. Game 11: Puerto Rico vs. USA, June 2 at 7:00 p.m. Game 15: Group A2 vs. Group B2, June 5 at 1:00 p.m. Game 16: Group A1 vs. Group B1, June 5 at 7:00 p.m. After group play concludes on Wednesday, June 2, the top two finishers from each group will advance to the Super Round, where they will each play two games. Head-to-head contests among these teams from the opening round will carry over into the Super Round standings. The team with the best Super Round record will be declared the winner and become the fifth National Team to advance to the Tokyo Olympic baseball tournament, joining world #1 Japan, #3 Korea, #5 Mexico and #18 Israel, who have already punched their ticket to the 2020 Tokyo Games. The second and third place teams will qualify for the WBSC Baseball Final Qualifier, scheduled from June 16-20 in Taiwan at Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium and Douliou Baseball Stadium in Douliu City. Tickets for the WBSC Baseball Americas Qualifier for Tokyo can be purchased by visiting https://oaqbaseball.com . About Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism (formerly Treasure Coast Sports Commission) offers event owners and managers access to outstanding sport facilities, special pricing on hotels from our partners and grants to help fund your event. Located on the East Central Coast of Florida comprising Indian River, St. Lucie and Martin Counties, the Treasure Coast is 45 minutes north of the Palm Beaches and the West Palm Beach International Airport, 90 minutes north of Ft. Lauderdale, 120 minutes north of Miami, and 120 minutes south of Orlando. Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism is the official home of the Florida Sports Hall of Fame, located at the MIDFLORIDA Event Center in Port St. Lucie. For more information, visit https://www.playtreasurecoastflorida.com .