BASEBALL

Cuba was beaten by Chinese Taipei 1-4 today, Saturday at Intercontinental stadium in Taichung, Taiwan in a dramatic game of the WBSC Premier 12 Baseball Tournament.

Both teams remained tied up to the top of the eighth inning when Chinese Taipei score three runs but Cuba could not overcome the result. Lin Chih-Sheng batted a homer with runners on first and second bases to drive in three runs.

In other games of Group A, Netherlands won over Puerto Rico 11-7 and Canada, unbeaten in the tournament so far beat Italy by slide 4-0. Japan defeated the United States 10-2 and remains unbeaten to lead Group B.

Before Games 19-24 on Day 6 (Saturday, 14 November) some stats as well as notable past encounters have been identified.

Days 1-5 of the Premier 12 have seen highly competitive games: 11 of 18 matches have been decided by five runs or less, 8 games by 2 runs or less and four games by only one run.

There have been 34 home runs hit in the first 18 games, including a tournament-leading 7 by Chinese Taipei.

Teams have 29 stolen bases in 36 attempts for a success rate of 81%.

The Netherlands have a batting average of .373, while South Korea’s .323 is the second-highest.

Japan pitchers (2.33 ERA) are the most unwilling to grant runs to their opponents, while Canada and South Korea pitchers have also been stingy with a 3.00 ERA.

SOCCER

Raúl González Triana, Coach of the Cuban soccer team, announced the 11 players for the friendly match against Mexico's club Santos Laguna today, Saturday at 3:00 pm local time , at Pedro Marrero Stadium in Havana.

The Cuban team include Sandy Sánchez as goalkeeper, along with Abel Martinez, David Urguellez, Arturo Dispe , Yosel Piedra, Yolexis Collado, Yaisniel Napoles, Daniel Luis Saez , Andi Baquero, and strikers Arichel Hernández and Maykel Reyes.

Santos Laguna coach Pako Ayestaran did not give details of the team to open the game, though he said “I want all those who traveled to participate. This is a game to enjoy, to offer a good show. We devote our attention to the result of the game many times and forget that the most important thing is that the audience enjoy the game.”

This is a demanding training test for Cuba before the game against Panama on January 8 seeking to qualify for the Copa América del Centenario (America Cup of the Centenary) hosted by the United States from June 3 to 26, 2016.

MARATHON

The president of the organizing committee of the Marabana-Maracuba marathon, Carlos Gattorno, told press in Havana that the 29th Marabana marathon will be a success with a participation record of over five thousand people.

Gattorno explained runners will start the Marabana marathon race at 7:00 am on Sunday. The Maracuba marathon race started at 10:00 am local time on Saturday.

Marabana marathon starts in the Paseo del Prado in front of the Capitol Building between Teniente Rey and San José streets and the finishing line is in the same place.

Runners should gather at the intersection of Anima street and Prado and not Refugio street as in previous events.

Gatorno said runners will cover 42 km and 195 meters. The Havana circuit is approved by The Association of International Marathons and Distance Races. 

CHESS

Cuban Lisandra Llaudy won with six points in seven rounds the El Salvador 2015 Women's Central American and Caribbean Chess Tournament in San Salvador on Friday followed by Cuban Maritza Arribas with 5,5 points and also Cuban Yaniet Marrero with 5,5 points as well.

Llaudy had five wins, one against Yaniet Marrero, two draws, including one playing Maritza Arribas in the fourth day of competition.

The event was the continuation of the Zonal 2.3 tournament las week in Nicaragua where Yaniet Marrero earned the victory to win the only place to qualify for the world cup.

Cuban Chess authorities announced the celebration of the International Chess Day with the first Blitz tournament of Havana.

The chess national commission revealed several local chess stars will meet at Habana Libre Hotel on the day the country celebrates the Physical Culture and Sports Day and José Raúl Capablanca's birthday anniversary on November 19.

Leinier Domínguez and Lázaro Bruzón will head the group of competitors in a provably nine-round tournament.