Baseball

The right-handed Yosvany Torres, who led Pinar del Rio to the end of the current Cuban Baseball Championship, was elected the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the current 53rd National Baseball Series.

According to a survey of the Cuban Baseball Federation and the specialized press, Torres surpassed in votes to Industriales' 3rd baseman Yulieski Gourriel and Matanzas' outfielder Yadiel Hernandez, as he has won 17 games with only 4 losses. In other categories, the winners were:

All Stars Team 2013-2014, Offensive category:
C: Yulexis La Rosa (VCL)
1B: William Saavedra (PRI)
2B: José Miguel Fernández (MTZ)
3B: Yulieski Gourriel (IND)
SS: Alexander Ayala (CMG)
OF: Maikel Cáceres (HOL)
OF: Roel Santos (GRA)
OF: Yadiel Hernández (MTZ)
DH: Frederich Cepeda (SSP)
Utility: Raúl González (CAV)
PD: Yosvani Torres (PRI)
PZ: Yoanni Yera (MTZ)
P. Rel: José Ángel García (ART)

All Stars Team 2013-2014, Defensive category (Golden Gloves):
C: Frank Camilo Morejón (IND)
1B: Ramón Lunar (VCL)
2B: Andy Sarduy (VCL)
3B: Yulieski Gourriel (IND)
SS: Ángel Miguel Fernández (IJU)
OF (3): Víctor Víctor Mesa (MTZ), Maikel Cáceres (HOL) y Yadiel Hernández (MTZ)
P: Yoanni Yera (MTZ)

Rookie of the Year
1st place: Vladimir Gutiérrez (PRI)
2nd place: Cionel Pérez (MTZ)
3rd place: Liván Moinelo (PRI)

Most Valuable Player 
1st place: Yosvani Torres (PRI)
2nd place: Yulieski Gourriel (IND)
3rd place: Yadiel Hernández (MTZ)
 
Boxing

Cuba’s Los Domadores sealed their advance to the semi-finals of the 4th World Series of Boxing, after their 3-2 win over USA Knockouts, as visitors in Salem, in the closure of the quarterfinals.

The world bronze medalist Yosbany Veitía had a close 2-1 win in the very first bout (48-47, 47-48, 48-47) over the last-minute replacement, the Puerto Rican reinforcement Anthony Chacón and Cuba guaranteed the qualification to the semi-final match against Russia to be held next April 24th.

The Cuban got into a muddle when he was dragged into the rival strategy and lost the 2nd and 5th rounds, in which he lacked his characteristic drive; however, he ensured his 6th win in the contest.

Later, the Cuban team drew the match after the desertion of 56 kg Marcos Forestal Cautín from the staff.

In a communiqué released by the Cuban delegation from Salem and confirmed by the Cuban Boxing Federation, the rest of the team members expressed: “That decision betrayed the will of a squad determined to be faithful to the warmth received from our people to whom we are committed”.

“To the thousands of athletes loyal to their homeland and to those who follow or performance, we confirmed the spirit of victory which is paramount for us and we will fight for the semi-finals”... This is the way the whole team reacted.

Finally, it was also officially informed that the Olympic champion Robeisy Ramirez and Arlen Lopez will represent Cuba in the 56 and 75 kilos, respectively, in the  top against hosts Russia on April 24th during the semifinals of the current World Series Boxing due to their quality and demonstrated success in trainings.

The top with the Russians looms very difficult and will end on May 2nd at Havana's Sports City Coliseum covering the 52, 60, 69, 81 and 91 kilos divisions, but if the regular schedule is tied at 5-5, there will be an extra combat in 91 kilograms.
 
US Swimmer Michael Phelps Coming Out of Retirement April 24-26

Michael Phelps is expected to come out of retirement and compete in his first meet since the 2012 Olympics next week.

This move paves the way for the 22-time Olympic medalist to compete in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, which would be Phelps' fifth Games.
USA Swimming announced Monday that it expects Phelps, along with other swimming stars such as Ryan Lochte and Katie Ledecky, to compete at the Arena Grand Prix in Mesa, Ariz., from April 24-26.

"As of today, I definitely expect him to swim," said Phelps' longtime coach Bob Bowman, "We're looking forward to it. I think it'll be great for the sport to have Michael compete again. We really don't have any expectations for what might happen. We just want to have some fun with it and see how it goes."
Phelps is entered in the 100-meter butterfly and 100-meter freestyle events, Bowman said.

"Those are both on the first day, and he'll probably try both of those (preliminaries) in the morning, see how it goes, and maybe do one final if he gets to the finals," Bowman said. "The next day, he's entered (in the 50 free) and will probably do a 50 butterfly. We don't know yet. "After this, we can decide what he wants to do next."
Monday's news is not all that surprising, as Phelps had upped his training over the last year and began taking all the necessary steps to make a comeback to competitive swimming. Phelps had rejoined the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency's drug testing pool last year and regained his eligibility for competition in March.