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Cuba takes back the crown, thanks to triple by
Urgellés
BY JOSÉ LUIS SALMERÓN – Special for Granma daily –
TAICHUNG, Chinese Taipei.—Cuba
attained its goal in the 16th Intercontinental Cup:
to win the crown of that competition for the 10th
time in the history of that tournament, in three
assists, with a 6-3 win over Holland, a fierce rival
that did not fall without first giving battle.
 Outfielder
Yoandry Urgellés, an All-Star Team member, and best
assister (12) and Most Defensive, who decided the
close game – as well as Most Valuable Player —,
after hitting a triple against losing relief pitcher
Tom Stuifberger, cleared the bases occupied by
Yuliesky, Mayeta (hits) and Cepeda (walk).
That clinched it for Holland, in
the midst of the hardest-fought victory for Cuba at
this tournament, as if to confirm the new winds that
are blowing in the world for this sport.
Also adding shine to this
well-organized competition was the home team,
Chinese Taipei, which came in third place after
beating Japan 4-0, while the Cubans received the Cup
and the most outstanding players, their individual
trophies.
The other teams’ placements, from
fourth to eighth, were Japan, Australia, Italy,
South Korea and the Philippines, respectively.
Frank Montieth missed being the
victor by so little. Veteran Dark Van´t Kloster
crossed his path, and with the score at 2-1, he
stayed fighting Holland with a deep double that
drove in Michael Duursma (hit) for a spectacular 3-3
tie.
Cuba had won a 3-2 advantage with
a homer by Giorvis Duvergel in the 10th inning,
equally at the expenses of Stuifbergen.
Others who played were David
Draijer and left-hander Gregory Justina, but none
like opener Rob Cordenans, who in six innings
allowed three hits, lots of chops and three victims
to his strikes.
The poor defense play by the
Dutch team helped the Cubans tie in the seventh,
against relief pitcher Diegomar Maxwell, although
Urrutia’s hit for first should have been a double
and not an error. Garlobo ran and scored the tie,
thanks to a slow chop by Duvergel.
Mothieth’s good work throughout 8
and two-thirds innings, after replacing Norge L.
Vera — two clean hits in two innings, turned out to
be a hangman’s noose, with eight strikeouts and a
pair of feints.
Pedro L. Lazo once again flexed
his muscle, with four outs for five hitters, to
checkmate the Dutch team, which played a weak
defense (five errors) and had second-rate pitching.
Five Cuban players were included
on the All-Star Team, following votes by journalists
and the criteria of the Technical Commission. Along
with outfielder Yoandry Urgellés, they included
Frederich Cepeda and Giorvis Duvergel, together with
catcher Ariel Pestano and third baseman Michel
Enríquez. Other members of the All-Star Team were
first baseman Sharnol Adriana (HOL), second baseman
Yung-Chi Chen (TPI) shortstop Naoto Watanabe (JAP),
left-handed pitcher Adam Blackley (AUS) and
right-hander Sandy Patrone (ITA).
Translated by Granma
International |
