Havana, May 21 (ACN) -- Storms are brewing in the LXIII National Baseball Series when three confrontations between teams that are within the classification zone begin today, which could generate changes in the standings.
The duels between Granma (second) and Ciego de Ávila (third), Las Tunas (fourth) and Camagüey (sixth) and Industriales (fifth) and Matanzas (sixth), steal the spotlight at the start of the eleven particular subseries.
Any of these challenges could be a preview of what we will see in the upcoming playoffs, although there is still a path to travel that always holds some surprises in the final stretch.
The clash between Alazanes and Tigres at the José Ramón Cepero was emotional, two squads that arrive with winning streaks and that have proven to have enough tools to fight for the crown.
The people of Granma will rely on an offense that averages 38 more points (.334 per .296) and hits more than twice as many home runs (64 per 28) and the Avilanians trust in a pitching staff that accepts 4.77 earned runs per game for 5.25 their rivals.
In Julio Antonio Mella the Lumberjacks, who left the Athens of Cuba dizzy although they achieved a victory on the last day by way of knockout, will try to impose the law of the woods at home against the young pitching staff of the Toros.
The Crocodiles will try to do the same in the capital's Latinoamericano stadium with an artillery that makes more runs than anyone else, but they will have the third most effective staff in the tournament in front of them.
In the remaining clashes there will also be motivations, even on September 5 in Cienfuegos between the Elephants of that province and the Pirates of the Island, because neither wants to stay with the basement cartel.
The sensation team of the championship, the leaders Vegueros de Pinar del Río, will visit the Nelson Fernández to clash with the Hurricanes of Mayabeque, who must react urgently if they aspire for a postseason berth.
This is how the Gallos de Sancti Spiritus are, in need of a winning streak in their José Antonio Huelga properties that will elevate them in the classification, although they will face the Cazadores de Artemisa, determined to remain in the privileged zone.
The Wasps of Santiago de Cuba will also look for a jump this week against the Holguín Cubs as visitors at the Calixto García, a place that is always difficult despite the poor campaign of the hosts.
Finally, in one of the most anticipated duels, the Guantanamo Indians (with three successes in a row) will battle at the Augusto César Sandino with the Villa Clara Leopardos, both teams located three lines away from the entrance door to the qualifying zone .
