2024-02-14 09:56:44
Text: Editorial Cuba Noticias 360
Foto: RL Hevia
The baseball effervescence that the Elite League final was able to generate in the fans was demonstrated this Sunday in Matanzas. What was seen in the Victoria de Girón park may allow the most skeptics to reflect on the passions aroused by Cuba’s national pastime, despite going through its worst period.
After a postseason of packed stadiums, mainly in the title dispute between Crocodiles and Cazadores, the promoted and rushed Star Series began with a public debt that clouded the double victory of the local teams on the opening day of the event. .
The Yumurino stadium wore the same finery as for game 7 of the final a week ago, but the attendance for the first duel between the star team and Mexico did not even reach a quarter of that of that memorable day. Thus, the ninth team led by Yuliesky González beat the Mexican team 10-0 via KO with the stands practically empty first thing in the morning.
Santiago’s Yosiel Serrano, leader in effectiveness in the winter league, scored the success by working without allowing damage for the five chapters that the clash lasted, while on offense the Las Tunas players Dennis Peña and Rafael Viñales sounded their bats with two home runs each.
A little later, not even the night schedule or the fact that the home team was playing made the influx of fans improve much. Armando Ferrer’s Crocodiles defeated the under 23 squad that attended on behalf of Venezuela 9-4 without many complications, with a victory thanks to right-hander Eriel Carrillo and offensive support from Yordanis Samón, who hit a home run and drove in four runs.
The Star Series started on Sunday morning with a Little League exhibition match between the teams from Matanzas and San Antonio de los Baños (Artemisa), which are getting ready for the national championship of the category. to be held in February.
For this Monday, the organizers of the event hope that baseball fans will be encouraged by the emergence of the Home Run Derby, one of the most attractive dishes that the week has in store. Although all the details have not yet been revealed, it is known that today will be the first qualifying round and each participating team will have a representation of three players.
Before that expected moment, the Venezuelan squad will face the Estrellas with a start time at 2:00pm, while in prime time (8:00pm) the Matanzas hosts will compete with the Mexican team, integrated by some names that attended the Central American and Pan American Games last year.