Cuba and the Nederland to tighten bonds in baseball

HAVANA, Cuba, Jan 8 (acn) Cuba and Holland will tighten their links on baseball with the development of an intense day of exchange agreed for Monday and Tuesday next week at Latinoamericano stadium in this city.

The program of activities includes a five innings exhibition match between representatives of both countries, as well as a home runs derby and a clinic aimed at children under 12, reports the sports publication JIT.

Cuban baseball authorities held yesterday a meeting with Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Cuba, Norbert W.M, Braakhuis, with the purpose of contributing from sport to the approach between both nations.

This baseball link between Cuba and the Netherlands could set the stage for a possible realization of an official bilateral match, to be materialized this year or next, in addition to strengthening efforts for the return of this sport to the program of the Olympic Games.

The event, organized in the context of a major business visit of the European country to the island, will begin at five in the afternoon of Monday with the home run derby with four sluggers by each team, and will continue with the aforementioned five innings game.

The home run derby will involve Dutch Gianson Boekhoudt, Kalian Sams, Sharlon Schoop and Andruw Jones, as well as Cubans Osvaldo Vazquez, Lourdes Gourriel, Yulieski Gourriel and José Adolis Garcia.

The exchange of the infants with Dutch athletes and Cuban baseball glories is scheduled for Tuesday.

For the friendly match against Holland, Cuba will use players with an outstanding performance in the current national championship, who will be led by Roger Machado, coach of Ciego de Avila, reigning monarch of Cuban baseball.

Here are the players called:

Catchers: Frank Camilo Morejón (IND), Osvaldo Vazquez (CAV).

Infielders: William Saavedra (PRI), Dainier Galvez ( IJV), Yulieski Gourriel (IND) Yorbis Borroto (CAV), Yurisbel Gracial (MTZ), Yordanis Alarcón (LTU) and Yunior Paumier ( HOL).

Outfielders: Yohandry Urgellés (ART), Alexander Pozo (MAY), Stayler Hernandez (IND), Guillermo Avilés (GRA), Lourdes Gourriel (IND) and Yoelvis Fiss (CAV).

Pitchers: Leandro Martinez (GRA), Wilber Pérez (IJV), Yamichel Perez (SSP), Yoen Socarrás (SSP ), Vladimir García (CAV), Yanier González (GRA), Yoanni Yera ( MTZ), Livan Moinelo (PRI) and Jose Angel Garcia ( ART).