Granma Wins Cuba Baseball Title

HAVANA TIMES — It took 40 years but Granma finally obtained its first Cuban baseball championship and they did it in superb form, blanking defending champion Ciego de Avila 4-0 in the final series.

The final game was played Sunday in Bayamo won by a score of 3-2.  Cesar Garcia was the winning pitcher and Miguel Lahera picked up a save.

Granma also surprised fans by defeating Matanzas, the hottest team during the entire regular season, in seven games to win their semifinal match up.

Carlos Marti, the seasoned manager of Granma, will now lead his team, stacked with reinforcements, to the Caribbean Series in Culiacan, Mexico from February 1-7 against teams from the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Puerto Rico and the host and defending champion Mexico.

The Caribbean series brings together the winners of highly competitive professional leagues, plus Cuba as a guest.

Likewise, Marti is now expected to get a coveted chance to manage the Cuban national team in the 4th World Baseball Classic this coming March in Japan.