Venezuela Win Women’s Softball Gold at South American Games

Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail

Venezuela secured the women’s softball gold medal at the XIII South American Games Santa Fe 2026 after completing an unbeaten campaign in Paraná, Argentina.

The Venezuelan team finished the tournament with a perfect 6-0 record, while Brazil claimed silver and hosts Argentina took bronze. Peru finished fourth, followed by Colombia and Bolivia.

Venezuela dominated the preliminary stage, scoring 62 runs and conceding only six across five games.

The team began its campaign with a 2-0 victory over Brazil before recording wins against Bolivia (17-0), Colombia (12-0), Peru (16-1) and Argentina (7-5) in eight innings.

Venezuela and Brazil met again in the gold-medal game, where the Venezuelans produced another strong performance.

Venezuela scored five runs in the second inning, followed by one in the third and two in the fifth, completing an 8-0 victory in five innings.

Pitcher Sarah Willis delivered a complete-game shutout, limiting Brazil to just two hits while issuing no walks.

Argentina earned the bronze medal after defeating Peru 4-3 in the third-place game.

The hosts initially fell 2-0 behind but scored twice in the fourth inning before taking the lead in the fifth. Argentina added another run in the sixth, which proved decisive. Peru scored once in the top of the sixth, but Argentina held on for the win.

Violeta Figueroa earned the victory after pitching six innings and allowing three runs, with only one of them earned.

Venezuela also finished as the tournament’s leading offensive team, recording a .497 batting average, 71 hits and 62 runs. Its pitching staff posted a combined 1.17 ERA.

Argentina’s Figueroa led all pitchers with 32 strikeouts in 25.1 innings and recorded a 0.83 ERA.

The South American Games softball programme will now turn its attention to the men’s competition, with Bolivia preparing to make its international debut in the tournament.