Radio Cadena Agramonte emisiora de Camagüey
Havana, December 29 - The José Ramón Cepero Stadium is once again the scene of a decisive battle today, as the Villa Clara Leopards face the Ciego de Ávila Tigers in the 64th National Baseball Series.
The battle for the last postseason ticket has entered its most ruthless stage, and the margin for error has been reduced to zero. Villa Clara, ninth with 31 wins and 34 losses, clings to a minimal hope: win almost everything that remains to sneak into the top eight. It is not an easy mission, but as long as there are numbers, there will be a fight.
The outlook is complex. Pinar del Río has reached 39 wins and only has one game left to play, while Cienfuegos closed its schedule also with 39 successes and holds the tiebreaker advantage against the Vegueros.
For the Leopards, the calculation is clear and cruel: they need at least eight wins - nine if Pinar del Río emerges victorious in its farewell game - to keep the dream alive.
Yesterday's games confirmed that no one will give anything away. At the Capitán San Luis, Pinar del Río defeated Industriales 5-1 and clung to the eighth spot. Gabriel Cantero pitched a solid six-inning start, and Lester Benítez led the offense with four RBIs, while the Blues closed their schedule with no chance to improve their position.
In Cienfuegos, the Elephants also did their part by defeating the Matanzas Crocodiles 8-6. A six-run rally in the sixth inning decided the game, with a home run by Erisbel Arruebarrena and a decisive double by Erick Acevedo. Although they no longer control their own destiny, the pachyderms finished their schedule with 39 wins and are now waiting for favorable combinations.
Meanwhile, the Leopards kept the flame alive by defeating the Tigers 5-3 at the José Ramón Cepero Stadium. Ariel Díaz drove in two runs, José Carlos Quesada pitched effectively from the mound, and Rubén Ortega sealed the win from the bullpen, while Brayan Romero stood out for Ciego de Ávila with a pair of hits.
With Las Tunas, Matanzas, Holguín, Mayabeque, Industriales, Sancti Spíritus, and Artemisa already qualified, the final ticket to the postseason is being contested at the edge of endurance.
This Monday, in the heart of Ciego, the Leopards will take the field again knowing that every out could be the last… or the beginning of a comeback that defies all logic. (Source: Prensa Latina)
