Cuba’s Ciego de Avila Wins World Baseball Challenge
HAVANA TIMES — The Ciego de Avila Tigers (6-1) of the Cuban baseball league won the championship game of the World Baseball Challenge on Thursday in smashing style with a 14-4 knockout over Japan’s JX-Eneos (4-4).
Yander Guevara went the route for Cuba allowing four runs while striking out eight. The Tigers pounded out 16 hits including homers from Yoelvis Fiss, the overall tournament MVP, and Ruben Valdez. Shortstop Yorbis Borrotto also had a big day going 3-for-4 with 3 RBIs.
The USA team NWAAC (4-4) won the bronze game 9-7 over Chinese Taipei’s Nationals (5-3) and Team Canada (0-7) finished last without recording a single victory.
Baseballdecuba.com reported after the game that Ciego’s first baseman Yossen Cuesta decided to abandon the team, seeking a way to remain in Canada in order pursue a professional career.
The cuban team is not the big team, it is de Ciego de Avila team, in my opinion is the 5 or 6 on the ranking on Cuban baseball right now. Don’t make excuses, also why they don’t send professionals players to the competition?
Both the Japanese and US teams are amateur-level young players seeking playing experience in the hopes of qualifying for low-level semi-professional teams in their respective countries. I would hope the Cuban squad recognizes that beating a group of 18 and 19 year-olds does not a ‘world champion’ make.