The Cuban province of Granma hosted this Friday the Awards Gala of the 61st National Baseball Series (SNB). 

By Orlando González Cruz

Havana, October 8 (RHC)-- The Cuban province of Granma hosted this Friday the Awards Gala of the 61st National Baseball Series (SNB). The Bayamo Theater lived an evening of glory, once again becoming the capital of baseball on the island.

The ceremony was attended by Raúl Fornés, First Vice-President of the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (INDER), and Juan Reinaldo Pérez Pardo, President of the Cuban Baseball Federation, among other personalities. In addition, awards were given to individuals and to the defensive, offensive and all-stars of the event. 

One of the country's greatest baseball players in all its history, the stellar Antonio Muñoz, presented the trophy to several of the evening's honorees and, in an interview with Radio Habana Cuba, expressed his gratitude to INDER and baseball executives for the invitation to the gala.

The culmination of the ceremony was the presentation of the National Champion trophy to the director of the Alazanes de Granma, Professor Carlos Marti, which caused great jubilation in the audience.

Minutes before the ceremony began, the outstanding sports journalist Joel García León presented his book "Medallas al Corazón" (Medals to the Heart). The text is a true journey through time that brings us closer to part of what is most valuable and shines in the Cuban sports movement.

The publication, which was published by Pablo de la Torriente Brau Publishing House, shows iconic figures of sports in the largest Caribbean island, their main competitive feats and the human beings behind the medals.

The presentation of the book was in charge of Jhonah Díaz González, journalist of Prensa Latina, and Muñoz was the special guest.

On the other hand, in the afternoon of the same day, the Technical Meeting of the first Elite League of Cuban Baseball was held, an event that had planned its inauguration for this weekend, but logistical details conspired against its "birth" on the appointed date.

Among other notes, the presence of Danel Castro in the Centrales' roster was confirmed, a reason for joy for the thousands of fans of the stellar second baseman from Cuba, who had been left out of the new tournament in his original squad.

After Friday's busy schedule, national baseball "closes the page" of the 61st SNB and waits for the official calendar of the Elite League and the 62nd SNB to engrave new history in the hearts of Cuban baseball fans.