SPORTS NEWS for WEDNESDAY, MAY 10th

Made up of 37 young players, the national pre-selection of the Cuban team that will participate in the Canadian-American Independent Baseball League (Can-Am) was announced in Havana.

The players will begin training on May 16th at Havana´s Latinoamericano Stadium under the guidance of Roger Machado, manager of the squad.

Catcher Yosvani Alarcon, third baseman Jefferson Delgado; as well as outfielders Víctor Víctor Mesa and Yoelkis Cespedes, all with experience in the 4th World Baseball Classic, stand out in the group.

We are happy with the team, especially for the possibility of working with young players who have earned this opportunity with their performance in tournaments like the National U23 series, Machado told the press.

Yosvani Aragon, Cuba´s national baseball director, explained that they want these young athletes to gain experience thinking about future competitions like Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Last year, during its first incursion in the Can-Am League, Cuba had a favorable balance of 11 wins and 9 losses.

This season they will play 21 matches in 22 days, in a contest that will begin in early June and which is attended in its first phase by eight sides, including six local.

Here's Cuba's complete pre-selection:

Catchers: Yosvani Alarcón, Ariel Martínez, Franklin Aballe and Olber Peña.

Infielders: Guillermo Avilés, Yordanis Samón, Juan Carlos Torriente, Humberto Bravo, Raul Gonzalez, Dainier Galvez, Yeniet Perez, Jefferson Delgado and Yulian Milian.

Outfielders: Víctor Víctor Mesa, Yoelkis Cespedes, Denis Laza and Eliecer Griñan.

Pitchers: Yoanni Yera, Ulfrido García, Alain Sanchez, Vladimir Baños, Jose Ramon Rodriguez, Frank Medina, Luis Castro, Yosbel Zulueta, Dariel Gongora, Yousimar Cousin, Leomil Gonzalez, Dairon Duran, Luis Castillo, Yariel Rodríguez, Yasmany Hernandez, Cesar Garcia, Dachel Duquesne and Geonel Gutierrez.

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The Spanish club Atletico Madrid will try to overcome the 0-3 scoreboard in the first stage against Real Madrid in the semifinals of the European Champions League.

The great advantage taken at the Santiago Bernabéu makes Real Madrid have half a ticket secured for the final, but the Atletico players look for the prowess of a historic comeback at the Vicente Calderón in their last European game in that stadium.

It would be the perfect farewell to the stage of his great triumphs, which will be demolished soon.

In the spotlight should be Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo, who with a hat-trick last week virtually collapsed their hopes.

If this team is missing something is a great comeback and tomorrow will be the day, said the captain of Atletico, Gabi Fernandez.

Meanwhile, Zinedine Zidane, the French manager of Real Madrid, said that the team will not have any problem handling the emotions of playing in a hostile scenario.

I do not think there will be problem of attitude, in football you always have to play and you have to make an excellent match, we need serenity, he reasoned.

If Madrid makes it to the finals today will have the oportunity of becoming the first team to repeat the European crown since the creation of the Champions League in 1992.