Havana vs Santiago de Cuba

Havana, Aug 21 (ACN) The youth team of Havana was crowned national Baseball5 champion after defeating Santiago de Cuba 2-1 in the grand final played in the province of Artemisa.

The team coached by professor Reinier Machú had to sweat it out on the field of the Julio Díaz School of Sports Initiation to overcome opponents who never gave up their flag.

The first game went to the capital's team with a score of 8-3, but then Yoanki Betancourt's eastern team won with a final score of 9-6 and forced a definitive challenge.

In what can be considered a classic battle on the asphalt, the Havana team won 3-2 amidst an explosion of emotions and won a title that both teams deserved, but that was reserved for only one of them.

Earlier, the locals from Artemisa defeated Guantanamo with scores of 3-2 and 6-2 and won the bronze medal, in a tournament where the Ciego de Avila team was in fifth place, followed by Mayabeque and Sancti Spiritus.

Once the tournament was over, the individual awards were given, where Havana's Amanda Diaz (world champion) won the Golden Punch in the women's category and the indomitable Yankiel Lopez in the men's category.

Also from Santiago, Rachel de la Caridad Medina and the universal title holder of the category, Josué Gutiérrez, received the distinction of Golden Hand in each of their sexes.

Finally, the organizers chose as Most Valuable Players of the tournament the capital's Amanda Díaz and Kevin Hidalgo and Onelio Pie as the best referee.