Baseball
Artemisa was again ratified among the big surprises of the current 54th Baseball Series to beat Santiago de Cuba on the 2nd consecutive day Tuesday, this time by a close 5-4 margin.
The designated batter Osmel Fraga and outfielder Juan Carlos Torres --the last one with 4 trailers-- gave 2 separate homers to lead the winning offensive of Artemisa's Los Cazadores and support the work of starter Miguel Lahera, who was also backed by José Angel García's rescue, while Santiago de Cuba's Las Avispas got 12 hits and received 6 walks, but left 12 men on board.
This result confirmed Artemisa in the 3rd seat of the Table with 14-9 tied with Industriales and only surpassed by the pointer Matanzas (16-7) and runner-up leader Ciego de Avila (14-8).
Meanwhile, the Avilanians' Los Tigres took revenge to overwhelm 13-3 to Guantánamo, with credit for reliever Victor Baró and offensive role of designated batter Humberto Morales with 1 homer and 3 runs scored for the winners.
In the morning hours, Matanzas was consolidated at the top by beating 4-3 to Camagüey, with 6th success of veteran undefeated Jonder Martinez, while Villa Clara left on the field the battered monarch of Pinar del Rio by 1-0, thanks to first baseman Yeniet Perez' decisive homer.
Also, Las Tunas and Industriales divided honors in a marathon day with early success for Las Tunas' Los Leñadores by 11-6, while the capital's representatives took revenge with a super 20-2 knockout in the 2nd game.
In the other matches of the day, Cienfuegos battled for 13 innings to overcome Sancti Spiritus by a score of 4 to 3, but clashes between Holguin-Isla de la Juventud and Granma-Mayabeque were suspended by rain.
Football
Determined to achieve the desired success, the U-17 Cuban soccer team will have a crucial match today against Martinique in the 2nd date of the final stage of the Caribbean, on the court of Sylvio Cator Stadium, in Port au Prince, Haiti.
If the disciples of Cuban coach Fidel "Jiqui" Salazar win, would ensure a ticket to the world qualifier tournament of the category to be played next year in Honduras.
In its 1st game, Cubans thrashed 5-0 to Guadalupe, with goals from Yoesan Alonso, Sergey Campillo, Ray Charles, Captain Carlos Borromeo and Omar Romero; while in the same Group B, Jamaica thrashed 4-0 to Martinique.
So with 3 points, Cubans and Jamaicans go at the head of the segment qualifier while Group A comprises Trinidad and Tobago, St. Lucia, Barbados and the hosts.
The top two teams from each group will get tickets for the tournament in Honduras. Cuba has attended two World U-17 Football/Soccer Cups: Scotland 1989 and Italy 1991.
Judo
A group of 9 young Cuban judokas will represent the island at the World Junior Judo Championship, which will host the Fort Lauderdale Convention Center, Miami, United States, starting tomorrow.
The staff is headed by the Havana's female athlete Gusmary García (+78 kilos), cadet world champion in 2013, precisely in the same city. The remaining students enrolled by Professor Ronaldo Veitía are Adilaidis Lemus (57kg), Maylín del Toro (63) and Nairelis Fuentes (70).
Meanwhile, the men's team will be led by Iván Silva (81), bronze at the Olympic Youth Games in Nanjing, China, this year, along with the young but experienced Magdiel Estrada (73), Leilandy Bridges (60), Camilo Hourrutunier (66) and Norlandis Soler (+100).
The draw of the divisions was carried out yesterday covering over 560 registered athletes from Germany, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, France, Japan, Netherlands, Cuba, Russia, Ukraine, Egypt and the United States.
Cuba will open actions with Leilandy Alain Puentes in the 60 kilograms division, who will be followed by its representatives at 55 kilos (m), and 44 and 48 (f).
Shooting Sport
The feast of Cuban shooters at the recently concluded XI Shooting Sport Americas Cup was 5 tickets for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro 2016 plus another 17 berths for the Pan-American Championship Toronto 2015, made at the Jalisco Hunting Club.
The 20 Cuban athletes closed with 8 golds (6 singles and 2 by teams at 25 m rapid fire pistol) and then added 6 silver and 5 bronze medals, thus showing its best performance in these types of events ever.
With gold medals and tickets to Rio de Janeiro shone Eglys Cruz (10 m air rifle, and rifle 3 position at 50 m), Jorge Grau (50 m pistol) and Estopiñán (50 m rifle lying).
Rafael Guerra, the national commissioner, told Jit sports on-line edition that 17 of the 20 competitors entered by Cuba to Toronto are already classified by the system established by the American Sport Shooting Confederation, plus Servando Rodriguez and Juan Miguel Puldón in shotgun, despite having earned any medals.
