Baseball
Cuba remained with chances of advancing to the Semifinals of the 57th Caribbean Baseball Series San Juan-2015, leaving host Puerto Rico on the field in the 10th episode with a narrow 3-2 score.
The Cuban squad Vegueros of Pinar del Rio scored the winning run by outfielder Roel Santos's single facing reliever Fernando Cabrera, after Frank Camilo Morejon anchored in the intermediate thanks to an error by 3rd baseman Yadiel Rivera.
Closer Héctor Manuel Mendoza, signed for the 2nd year in a row in the League of Japan, emerged as the hero from the mound to contain the local Cangrejeros de Santurce's offensive during 3 and 2/3 chapters, in which he assimilated 2 hits and did not allow any cleans.
The win against the locals stands for a sort of boost to the aspirations of the Cuban team, which together with the defeats in its previous caps facing Mexico (1-2) and Dominican Republic (1-6), suffered the defection of 2 players, shortstop Dainer Moreira and pitcher Vladimir Gutierrez.
In the other match of the day, Venezuela's Caribes de Anzoátegui exceeded 6-5 to Gigantes del Cibao, from Dominican Republic to remain unbeaten in the Caribbean Classic and tie at the top with Mexico's Tomateros of Culiacán, both undefeated with 2 wins.
Owners of the 4th place with 1-2, the Vegueros of Pinar del Río seek to ensure on Thursday one ticket to the Semifinals when playing against Venezuela in their last game of the Qualifying, while Dominicans (1-1) will go against the Mexican team.
Also in baseball, it was announced that The Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame, which was established in 1996, released its latest list of the 76 inductees through 2015 in favor of Roberto Clemente, Puerto Rico OF (2 CS), Juan González, Puerto Rico OF (3 CS), Conrado Marrero, Cuba P (4 CS), Napoleón Reyes, Cuba IF (3 CS), Héctor Villanueva, Puerto Rico C (6 CS), and Bernie Williams, Puerto Rico OF (3 CS).
The Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame has among its members; Tony Armas, Tany Pérez, George Bell, Rod Carew, Willie Mays, Orestes Miñoso, David Concepción, Edgar Martínez, Roberto Alomar, Carlos Baerga y Fernando Valenzuela.
FIFA 2022 World Cup Dates
IOC President Thomas Bach is happy with FIFA's moves toward choosing dates for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar that do not clash with the Winter Olympics, arguing that he was encouraged by the "latest signals that this is going in the right direction."
A FIFA working group aims to recommend playing dates for the 2022 World Cup at a Feb. 23rd meeting in Doha, Qatar.
A clash of dates between the Olympics and World Cup would be a "lose-lose situation" and "cause major problems" for broadcasters and sponsors, Bach claimed during a visit on Tuesday to the Alpine skiing world championships.
Beijing and Almaty, Kazakhstan, are bidding for the 2022 Games. Both propose dates of Feb. 4-20.
FIFA's executive committee has final approval on the World Cup dates, and could make that decision at a March 19-20 meeting in Zurich.
Even FIFA's preferred option goes head-to-head with winter sports, such as Alpine skiing, which traditionally races in North America, Finland, France and Italy during pre-Christmas weeks.
Boxing
The British Lion Hearts and the Algeria Desert Hawks opened the 4th week of competitions at the World Series Boxing (WSB).
In the York Hall of the British capital, the hosts will go for their 2nd team win against Algerians who could not prevail in any of their two previous competitions, because they delayed on the first date.
The big attraction will see the premiere of the Bulgarian reinforcement Detelin Dalakliev Milan-2009 world champion and 4 times monarch in Europe, who faces Reda Benbaziz with huge possibilities to win.
The tournament will continue tomorrow with duels Russia-Mexico's Guerreros, in Samara, Cuba's Domadores-China's Dragons, in Havana, and Ukraine's Otamans-Morocco's Atlas Lions, in Kiev.
On Saturday, the rivals will cover Puerto Rico's Hurricanes-Venezuela's Caciques, in San Juan, Azerbaijan's Baku Fires-Poland's Rafaco Hussars, in Cuba, and Argentina's Condors-Italy's Thunder, in San Luis.
Finally, on Sunday the Kazakh city of Almaty will host the final stage between local Astana Arlans and Americans' Knockouts.
So far Domadores and Otamans lead Group A with 9 points, while Arlans and Knockouts show identical points in Group B.
