MOORHEAD, Minn. - eTradeWire -- The Baseball Champions League (BCL) Americas gets underway today at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú in Mexico City, with a team made up mostly of players from the American Association of Professional Baseball (@AA_Baseball) reigning champion Kane County Cougars representing the league in the six-team international competition.

Here are 10 (or so) Things to Know about the BCL and AAPB this week:

• Hosted by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) in conjunction with the Mexican Baseball League (LMB), the 2025 BCL Americas features the Cougars and five other champion clubs (https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2025-baseball-ch...):
  • Leñadores de Las Tunas (Cuba) – Serie Nacional Champions
  • Pirates de Santa Maria (Curaçao) – Curaçao Baseball League Champions
  • Tigres de Chinandega (Nicaragua) – Liga de Béisbol Profesional Nacional
  • Titanes de Florida (Puerto Rico) – Liga de Béisbol Superior Doble A
  • Diablos Rojos del México (Mexico) – Mexican Baseball League (LMB) Champions and tournament hosts
• These teams are divided into two groups:
  • Group A: Diablos Rojos del México, Tigres de Chinandega, Titanes de Florida
  • Group B: Kane County Cougars, Leñadores de Las Tunas, Pirates de Santa Maria
• Play begins today in the Round Robin portion (https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2025-baseball-champions-league-americas/schedule-and-results) of the contest, with the Cougars taking on Santa Maria at 4 p.m. ET (3 p.m. CT). Vin Timpanelli (Staten Island, N.Y. / Ramapo (N.J.) College; 1-2. 2.70 for Kane County last year) gets the starting assignment on the mound
• Some of the notable players on other teams competing in the event (https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2025-baseball-champions-league-americas/teams) include:
  • Aristides Aquino, Diablos Rojos del México
  • Robinson Canó, Diablos Rojos del México
  • Francisco Mejía, Diablos Rojos del México
  • Jose Pirela, Diablos Rojos del México
  • Jonathan Schoop, Santa María Pirates
  • Andrelton Simmons, Santa María Pirates
• The format includes two group-stage games for each team followed by crossover games between second- and third-place finishers (Friday)
• Kane County also plays on Thursday vs. Leñadores (4 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. CT) before QF/Semifinal matchups the next two days.
• All BCL games involving the Cougars are available for free live viewing at aabaseball.tv, as well as broadcast partners Fubo, Unbeaten, Ryz Sports Network and Gray TV.
• There are several companies that are helping support the American Association and its players in participating in the Baseball Champions League: Carbliss, CAPX, Champro, VensureHR
• In the inaugural 2023 edition of the BCL, the Fargo-Moorhead claimed the first title
• The AAPB season gets underway on Thursday, May 8

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