Briandy Molina

Havana, Oct 9 (JIT) - Team Cuba defeated on Wednesday Chinese Taipei 2-0 (7x1, 2x1) and closed undefeated the qualifying phase for group A of the Baseball5 World Cup Hong Kong 2024.

On the field installed at Bauhinia Court, coach Pablo Terry's team showed its best skills in the first set, with outstanding hitting for its captain, second in the lineup and middle infielder Briandy Molina (5-3, with two RBIs).

The applause also went to Cuba's Orlando Amador (5-3, one RBI) and Haila Gonzalez, who hit 4-2 and sent three runners to the home.

In the second half, Cuba needed to show again its best game against a squad ranked first in the world and bronze medalist in the first edition of the World Cup in Mexico 2022.

Briandy, the “legend” of baseball5 at world level, played a leading role with 5-4, while Orlando Amador, a torpedo player from the capital, had 5-3, and Yiliena Otamendez, a newcomer from Guantanamo, also made her debut.

The most outstanding news reflects that the two Cuban runs were driven in by girls, by Gonzalez and Otamendez.

Overall, Molina was once again the best hitter (.700, 10-7) and the talented Gonzalez led in runs (4).

The fifth successive victory for Terry's squad, which has not yet lost a set in this World Cup. It opened with successes against Lithuania (18x2, 11x2) and South Africa (10x0, 9x1) and then disposed of Hong Kong (15x0 and 12x0) and Venezuela (5x4, 3x2).

This Thursday, at the start of the super round phase, Cuba will open against the also undefeated Japan, runner-up in 2022, and then will face the Mexicans, to close on Friday against France. And there is no doubt that on Saturday they will be in the medal discussion.