Urasoe City, April 18 – The 5th Annual Okinawan-American Youth Baseball Tournament concluded its Championship rounds at Urasoe Municipal Baseball Stadium. As it has since its inception, this year’s tournament highlighted the close cultural ties between the United States and Okinawa through both countries’ shared love of baseball.

For the second year in a row, the Sola Okinawa and the Urasoe Brave Boys squared off against one another in the Championship game. In the end, the Sola Okinawa defeated their rivals by a score of 1 to 0 and were crowned Tournament Champions.

The Cross Cultural Allstar Game, held after the Championship had been decided, pitted select members from top four Okinawan teams and two U.S. teams against one another along national lines. For the third straight year, The American Allstars claimed the win.

Although the competition was intense, off the field, members of all teams had the chance to meet and strike up new friendships, demonstrating how the bonds of cooperation can be strengthened through competition.