Havana, November 18 (JIT) -- The legendary Fréderich Cepeda, considered by many experts and journalists as the best Cuban baseball player of the current century, became this Friday the historic leader in the production of extra-base hits in the Island's national championships. 

In his fifth and last at-bat against Industriales, Cepeda hit his 353rd home run in his lifetime, bringing his total to 854 at-bats with more than one base and breaking the embrace with Orestes Kindelán, also a star and now retired.

Cepeda, a member of the national team to four world classics and other top-level international events during his 25-season career, has also hit 447 doubles and 54 triples, according to statistician Benigno Daquinta Rico.

Behind Cepeda and Kindelán are Omar Linares (785), Antonio Pacheco (774), Antonio Muñoz (713) and Lázaro Junco (709), the only ones with more than 700 extra-base hits in their respective careers.

The next one to surpass that amount is Yordanis Samón, who has accumulated 699 at-bats with which he has reached at least second base without defensive errors.

Among the active players, the also mythical tunero Dánel Castro, absolute leader in hits in Cuban tournaments, needs 18 extra-base hits to enter the exclusive group of the 700.

On the day, corresponding to the II Elite League of Cuban Baseball, Industriales defeated Sancti Spíritus 6x2, Santiago de Cuba beat Artemisa 1x0 and Matanzas knocked out Las Tunas 10x0.

With these results, the Leones took the lead in the standings (6-3), half a point ahead of their victims (5-3). The Avispas santiagueras (5-4) are in third place, followed by Matanzas (3-4), Las Tunas (3-5) and Artemisa (3-6).