With ten games left to close the National Series regular schedule, the panorama begins to clear

With ten games left to close the National Series regular schedule, the panorama begins to clear and, for the championship’s final sprint, a dozen teams appear with real options to advance to the postseason.

The six at the top of the table should not have difficulties. The main attraction of this home straight will be centred on the fight for the last two playoff tickets.

The quartet formed by Artemisa, Sancti Spíritus, Pinar and Granma, between seventh and tenth, are separated by barely two and a half games difference, an advantage that can be erased in the upcoming matches.

In this sense, the Roosters are the most hard-pressed; for, when the regular schedule ends, their rivals will continue playing pending clashes and they will have spent all their bullets; hence they must achieve at least six more victories to reach the figure of 40 and sit and wait for their rivals’ performance.

Today the penultimate specific fixtures begin, and the path will continue to clear. Our ball is going through very difficult times, but competitiveness and parity among the teams is an element that distinguishes our national classic.

On another topic, yesterday we learned of the official signing of the Villa Clara baseball player Jonathan Moreno with the Japanese professional club Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. Moreno stood out in the past Under-18 World Cup, in which he came to be considered the best shortstop of the tournament, thanks to his impeccable defence and timely offence.

For the next season, the Vueltabajo pitchers Liván Moinelo and Raidel Martínez will remain in Japan, who this year shone in the staffs of the SoftBank Hawks and the Yomiuri Giants, respectively.

Ariel Martínez, Darío Sarduy, Randy Martínez, Cristián Rodríguez and coach Omar Linares also renewed their contracts.