Cuba Wins under-15
World Baseball Championship

Cuba’s team of young ballplayers put on an outstanding performance and won the under-15 World Baseball Championship title, besting the previously undefeated U. S. team, 6-3, in the tournament final held August 10, in Mazatlan’s Teodoro Mariscal Stadium, in the Mexican state of Sinaloa.

Starting pitcher Adrian Morejón emerged as the team hero by completing the game despite allowing seven hits and three earned runs, in addition to 12 strikeouts, while U.S. relief pitcher Hunter Greene took the loss.

Cuba’s best hitters were first baseman Ernesto Martinez, who hit 3 for 4 with two doubles and two RBIs, seconded by third baseman Miguel Vargas and pitcher Morejón with an RBI each.

Martinez led the Cuban offense throughout the competition, averaging .436, with 17 hits, 11 RBIs, and the team’s only homerun.

Lázaro Almenteros also batted for .462 with three doubles, five triples, eight RBIs, and nine runs, according to the official tournament website.

Cuba led group C in the qualifying, with five wins and no losses, defeating Argentina (12-2), Venezuela (12-2), Australia (12-2), Lithuania (30-0) and Hong Kong (21-0).

In the second round, Cuba suffered two defeats against United States (2-10) and Mexico (2-5), and secured a ticket to the final by eliminating Chinese Taipei (3-2) and Panama (2-1).