Three Teams Fight to Make the Playoffs in Cuban Baseball

HAVANA, Cuba, Mar 17 (acn) Isla de la Juventud and Industriales face each other today in the Latinoamericano Stadium, of this city, to define the fourth team qualified to the Cuban baseball playoffs, with Pinar del Río still clinging to mathematical chance.

With three days to close the regular season, the Isla de le Juventud Pirates and Industriales appear tied in the fight for the last playoff berth, both with 46 wins and 38 losses, while the current monarchs follow behind them with balance of 45-39.

The possibilities of those coached by Alfonso Urquiola border on utopia, they must defeat thrice Artemisa (39-45), and wait for the Pirates to win twice in their visit to Havana.

That combination would cause a tie between Pinar del Rio and Isla de la Juventud in fourth place in the standings, but the tiebreaker would favor the current domestic champions who won 5-4 their particular subseries against the Pirates.

By contrast, Pinar del Rio would be in disadvantage in case of a possible tie with Industriales as the latter defeated them (also 5-4) in their particular subseries.

The Pirates arrive inspired to Havana after gaining positions with a sweep off Holguín, while Industriales will need a salutary lesson to return to winning ways after losing three times against Granma (51-33).

Granma will try to be ratified in second place in the standings in its raid on the premises of the Holguin Hounds (35-49), while the leader Matanzas (53-31) will close the regular schedule as visitor versus Ciego de Ávila (49-35).

Cuban baseball semifinals will kick off on March 24 with the first match at the headquarters of the leader, presumably Matanzas, against the owner of the fourth ticket, team yet to be defined between Industriales, Isla de la Juventud and Pinar del Río.

These sides will fight again on March 25, when the owner of the second place, currently occupied by Granma, will be facing the third-placed, presumably Ciego de Ávila, but the program can still vary according to the results of the last subseries.