LATIN AMERICA

 

Cuba for 2nd World Baseball Classic Title

Havana  - The Cuban baseball team to participate in the 2nd World Baseball Classic keeps walking on to the dispute of the title, now installed in the capital of Mexico to recognize the Foro Sol Stadium and practice before its match against South Africa on Sunday.

Cuba will rest after arriving from the city of Puebla, where there were two weeks of training and five matches, looking for the best shape.

The Cuban team will fulfil their first practice shift, being the first among four teams in the Group B Friday morning.

The stay at the Serdan Brothers Stadium in Puebla was very fruitful, and now they will try to classify for the next stage of the tournament in Mexico City, to go to San Diego, California, to look for their finals ticket.

The heights are no longer a concern for the Cuban players headed by manager Higinio Velez, after winning in their five training matches, one versus Mexican pro team Aguilas de Veracruz and four against another pro team called Pericos de Puebla.

Alexander Mayeta, Cuban regular first baseman, told Prensa Latina the team is always going for the gold medals, and now the team is ready to take the 2nd World Baseball Classic title to Cuba.

The same opinion is held by Cuban team captain Eduardo Paret (shortstop), outfielder Frederich Cepeda and right-handed pitcher Pedro Luis Lazo. The technical leadership of the team said the training stage was very beneficial in every aspect.

Cuba beat Pericos de Puebla in the last training match, with a 7-4 score.

Previous to this, Cuba had won the Aguilas 7-3, and then beat Pericos de Puebla twice, with scores of 19-0 and 6-2.

Cuba is now much better trained than for the 2006 World Classic edition, with an airtight fielding defense, a more balanced pitching staff, more batting strength, a better teamwork and expert coaches.

Cuba and Mexico should the ones with the tickets to San Diego, while Japan (current champion) and South Korea must be added as semifinalists.