2024-02-15 14:22:57
Text: Raúl del Pino
Foto: RL Hevia
The predictions of specialists and fans finally came true and Matanzas became the second champion of the Elite League, after beating Artemisa 12 runs to 5 the day before and winning 4-2 in a final that, among other milestones, broke a of the oldest curses in Cuban baseball.
With a roster vastly superior to the rest of the five teams in competition, the Crocodiles asserted their home status in the sixth game of the series and let themselves go to bat in front of their fans, although they also benefited from the weak defense of the Hunters who made trouble with seven mistakes.
The pupils of debutant manager Yulieski González came out determined to sell the defeat dearly and took the lead on the scoreboard thanks to a three-run home run by reinforcement Dennis Laza in the same first inning. However, the Matanzas team quickly equalized, taking advantage of the first two defensive inaccuracies of their rivals.
Artemisa did not give up and in the third inning they once again took the lead by scoring two scores, but the advantage would not last long as Matanzas caught up with them and overtook them, with a couple of runs in the fourth, another two in the fifth, and a bunch final five in the sixth to seal the clash.
In addition to the opposing errors, once again long-range hitting was essential for the Matanzas victory. On this occasion, veterans Yordanis Samón and Ariel Sánchez stood out with two full-round hits opening the fifth and sixth innings, respectively.
In this way, the Crocodiles added a total of 18 home runs in 11 postseason games, a figure that alone demonstrates the superiority of the roster managed by manager Armando Ferrer, who could even afford to seat the former Major Leagues Dariel Álvarez (one of the three that Matanzas had), not being in full offensive shape.
The important success that opened the doors of the title to Matanzas went to right-hander Noervys Entenza after excellent relief work (3.1IP, 2H, 3K, 2BB) that was continued by another right-hander, in this case Frank Luis Medina (3.1 IP, 3H), deserving of the point for saved game.
Samon’s curse comes to an end
At this point, no one questions that Samón from Granma is one of the best hitters to have played in Cuban baseball in this century. However, in its previous 21 seasons it had never managed to celebrate a title, even though it had competed in three types of domestic championships (Super League, National Series and Elite League) with eight different teams.
For this reason, the most skeptical Matanzas residents did not give way to premature celebrations until they saw Samón, probably the most euphoric of the new monarchs, lift the trophy. “The Bomber of El Dorado†finally managed to put an end to a “curse†that earned him, unfairly, numerous critics and detractors throughout the country.
And knowing he was close to breaking that long streak, the experienced 42-year-old player was one of the protagonists of the final victory with the aforementioned home run and two other hits in the final match. The last out of the game went down in history, starring himself at first, after which he raised his arms and looked at the sky.
The Crocodiles already have rivals “from outside”
Right in the middle of the awards on the grass of the Victoria de Girón stadium, national commissioner Juan Reinaldo Pérez confirmed on national television that the international teams that will participate in the Star Series that will be held that same day are already known. scenario between January 28 and February 1.
In addition to the Elite League champion team and a selection made up of players from the rest of the country, a team from Mexico and another from Venezuela will attend the event. In this way, the contest will have a quadrangular format of all against all in one round, with its subsequent crossed semifinals.
The also president of the Cuban Baseball and Softball Federation (FBCS) reiterated that on those days there will be a Little League exhibition game between teams from Artemisa and Matanzas, as well as a Home Run Derby and the awards to the best players in the Elite League.