On April 11, the Ciego de Ávila team defeated the Isle of Youth Special Municipality 7-2, in the seventh game of the play-off, claiming the title of the 54th National Baseball Series.
In their home stadium, the José Ramón Cepero, in Ciego de Ávila’s capital, the Tigers established a great defense and exploited every crack in the Piratas play, to win the title for the second time in their history.
In the 51st season, in 2012, after defeating Industriales in the final, Roger Machado’s team, assumed the throne of Cuba’s most popular sport for the first time.
During the final game, Ciego de Ávila, were up 2-0 in the first inning, thanks to a bases-loaded singleby Yoelvis Fiss and followed by a sacrifice fly from Yeniet Pérez.
A second sacrifice-fly in the third inning by Raúl González resulted in Ciego’s Ariel Borrero securing a third run.
The Isle of Youth’s Jorge Luis Barcelán made a single in the beginning of the sixth inning, batting in two teammates, but their opportunity to tie the score quickly evaporated.
At the bottom of the inning, the Tigers regained a three run advantage after Borrero moved González up to second and José Adolis García exploited a base hit to send him home.
Once again, the home team secured two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, taking advantage of a double by Raúl González, later stealing third base and home.
Right handed pitcher Yander Guevara made 100 throws, the highest number allowed for opening pitchers in Cuba, and played seven innings, contributing to the win, despite having not performed well in previous games of the current post season.
Guevara allowed eight hits, his rival on the mound Yoalkis Cruz played for five and two thirds of an inning, with nine hits against him, plus five clean runs, and one unearned, which cost them the series.
For the winning team, González forced two runs and José Adolis García and Andy Zamora together made five hits, a line drive and three runs.
Matanzas, the team with the most wins in the regular season - in both the qualifying stage and the second round of the tournament - finished in third place.
Granma, Pinar del Río, Industriales, Artemisa and Holguín placed fourth to eighth, in that order.
Ninth to 16th: Sancti Spíritus, Las Tunas, Santiago de Cuba, Villa Clara, Guantánamo, Mayabeque, Cienfuegos and Camagüey.
