The semifinal phase of the I Elite League of Cuban Baseball (LEBC) began this Wednesday with the confrontation between the Central and Port teams at the Victoria de Girón stadium, in Matanzas, a series that will have a maximum of seven challenges.
Armando Ferrer, mentor of the center team, chose Villa Clara’s right-hander Fredy Asiel Álvarez as the opener for the match, while Mayabe’s manager Michael González entrusted that mission to Quivicán’s right-hander, Yadián Martínez, according to a report of the Cuban News Agency (ACN).
The Elite League of #Baseball he gets into the play offs
This Wednesday the casts of Power Stations and Ports are measured in Matanzas. #Cuba #BaseBall #LEBC https://t.co/WnvA1F1p8E pic.twitter.com/IIoWuNJ2kB— JIT Cuban Sport (@jit_digital) January 3, 2023
Centrales, which brings together players from the provinces of Matanzas, Cienfuegos and Villa Clara, finished second in the qualifying phase with a record of 27 wins and 23 losses, while Portuarios, which recruits players from Industriales and Mayabeque, ranked third place with 26-24, after an impressive comeback in which they signed 15 victories in their last 20 games.
Based on the statistics, Centrales comes out as the favorite to win this duel, since in the preliminary section they finished as first by teams both in pitching (3.21 earned run average) and in fielding (979 average). In addition, they were second in batting (.288), only behind Agricultores (.299), highlights the outlet.
Yes, as it has come out, shortstop Erisbel Arruebarrena, from the Mexican Pacific League, and catcher Ariel Martínez, who played as outfielder and first baseman with the Dragones de Chunichi, in Japan, joined the squad led by Ferrer. the group would be strengthened and their chances of victory would increase.
The cast of Portuarios wants to show that in a play off The one with the best form wins, and the excellent performance of the last duels contrasts with what was achieved in the qualifying phase, when they were third in offense (.279), fourth in pitching (3.58) and occupied the same position in defense (974), shared with the representation of Cafetaleros.
In the preliminary phase, both teams achieved five wins in their individual duels.
For this Thursday at the Mártires de Girón stadium, in the city of Bayamo, another semifinal duel of the tournament is scheduled, starring the teams of Farmers and Tabacaleros. The former led the regular stage with 30 wins and 19 losses, while his rivals closed that segment with 25 wins and 24 losses.
The highest baseball authorities in Cuba hope that the new instance of the tournament captures greater attention from the fans, since most of the matches of the previous stage were played with semi-empty stadiums, and without the intense rivalry that exists in Cuba having surfaced. this sport on the island.
The final of the I LEBC is also agreed to a maximum of seven games, and the winning team will be the representative of Cuba in the upcoming Caribbean Series of Gran Caracas 2023, which will be held at the end of this month in the capital of Venezuela.
