Cuba beats Puerto Rico and will play USA for a ticket to the final of the Pan American Softball Championship

Havana, November 18 (RHC) - The Cuban women's softball team will face this Friday the powerful team of the United States, in a game in which the winner will be seeded to discuss the gold medal at the Pan American Games in Guatemala.

On Thursday, Jorge Lamas' students achieved their sixth victory of the tournament with only one setback and qualified for the 2023 Pre-World Championship and secured bronze by knocking out Puerto Rico, ranked fifth in the world, 12-5.

The game was decided from the very first chapter, when the Cubans scored seven runs, with seven hits, including home runs by Leannelis Zayas and Yanisleydis Casanova, the latter with two on base.

As reported by colleague Hernández Luján, Cuban press envoy to the game, the Cubans gave up 17 hits against one of the best teams in the world and one that they had not defeated since 2015.

Individual standouts were center fielder Yarianna López, with two doubles, a home run and five RBIs, and pitcher Yilian Tornés, who was on the mound the whole time for the Cubans. Lopez is the leading home run leader with 2.

It was the fifth knockout for the Cubans, in a tournament in which they have seven home runs, two games of zero runs and six wins in a row, after the initial setback against Mexico.

The United States, Cuba's opponent this Friday, is the big favorite for the title, due to its status as World champion, Olympic runner-up and first in the world ranking, as well as the only undefeated player in the tournament.