Radio Cadena Agramonte emisiora de Camagüey
Havana, Feb 24 - The Super Round of the Pan American Men's Softball Championship raises its curtain today in Montería, Colombia, with Cuba ready to face a decisive day where ambitions, pending accounts, and qualification dreams cross paths.
The schedule gives no respite. Early in the day (10:00 a.m.), the Cubans will measure forces with the world champions from Venezuela, solid leaders of Group B and undefeated in three appearances.
The day before, the South Americans defeated Colombia 6-3 after an offensive rally when it was time to wield the bats, manufacturing all their runs like an unstoppable stampede. It will be a high-voltage clash, where discipline from the mound and patience at the plate will make the minimal differences.
Later, at 1:30 p.m., Cuba will return to the field to face the Dominican Republic, third in Group C with two wins and one loss, the latter 5-1 against the United States.
The Dominicans combine occasional power with aggressiveness on the bases, and they tend to thrive in pressure scenarios. For the team from the largest island in the Caribbean, the key will be to maintain concentration during both outings, manage the pitching intelligently, and avoid the offensive lapses that have already proven costly.
There is no longer room for testing or timid calculations: the phase begins where every play can tip the scales of an entire tournament. In this stage, the results against the qualified teams are carried over, so the standings show Argentina and Venezuela at the top, undefeated at 2-0, pursued by a compact group including Canada, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and the United States (1-1), while Colombia and Panama close without wins (0-2).
Cuba, managed by Leonardo Cárdenas, arrives after finishing second in Group A with a record of three wins and one loss. The only blemish was the 6-0 defeat against Argentina, a rough duel in which the Antillean bats were silenced with no hits and no runs by the impeccable combination of MatíasEtchevers and Pablo Migliavacca.
The Super Round not only defines the continental podium. It also distributes six berths for the Pan American Games in Lima 2027 and grants five spots for the first phase of the World Cup, incentives that raise the competitive temperature. It is not played solely for a medal, but for the right to continue writing history on major stages.
Thus, amidst statistics that weigh heavy and metaphors that burn, the Cubans face their defining hour. The diamond in Montería will be today both a forge and a test. There, under the inclement sun or the tense shadow of a close inning, it will be known whether the Antillean nine converts adversity into momentum and transforms each pitch into a firm step towards glory. (Source: ACN)
