Cuban Team Flagged Off for Americas Baseball Series

National Team Receives Flag for Upcoming Tournament in Venezuela
The Cuban team that will attend the II Americas Baseball Series, hosted by Venezuela, was officially flagged off today at the Latinoamericano Stadium.

This tournament will be held from February 5th to 13th at the La Rinconada Stadium in Caracas and the beautiful Jorge Luis García Carneiro Stadium in La Guaira.

In the first edition in Nicaragua, the Leñadores de Las Tunas squad finished in fourth place.

Ceremony Led by INDER President
During the ceremony, led by Osvaldo Vento Montiller, president of the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education, and Recreation (INDER), pitcher Pedro Luis Lazo, a glory of national baseball, handed the national flag to Vento Montiller. He, in turn, placed it in the hands of team captain Alfredo Despaigne, escorted by outfielders Yoelkis Guibert and Roel Santos.

Athletes' Pledge and Official's Address
"We commit to fighting hard in every one of our games, always maintaining ethical and moral behavior based on fair play and respect for opponents and umpires," expressed pitcher Frank Abel Álvarez while reading the team's pledge.

"Today we are not just flagging off a team; we are flagging off the history, dignity, and will of a people who have made sport an expression of their identity and values. Each of you carries on your shoulders the effort of generations and the trust of a nation that believes in its athletes," asserted INDER Vice President Omar Venegas, who will serve as head of the delegation.

Tournament Participants and Pitching Plans
In this new edition of the Americas Series, seven teams will participate: Venezuela (Navegantes del Magallanes), Panama (Águilas Metropolitanas), Nicaragua (Leones de León), Colombia (Caimanes de Barranquilla), and Argentina (Club Daom). Cuba and Curaçao will participate with a national selection.

Pitching coach Jesús Bosmenier told JIT that either left-hander Randy Martínez or right-hander José Ignacio Bermúdez would likely start Cuba's first game on February 6th against Nicaragua's Leones de León.