Villa Clara, Camagüey, and Granma secure playoff berths. The Villa Clara, Camagüey, and Granma squads have qualified for the semi-final phase of Cuba’s U-23 National Baseball Series.

On the final day of the regular season in Group B, Villa Clara Leopards delivered a 15-1 knockout against closest rivals Cienfuegos, powered by a 12-hit offensive display. First baseman Emmanuel Sañudo went 3-for-3 with four RBIs. José Gómez and Jonathan Moreno drove in three runs each. Pitcher Ángel Luis Fernández claimed his second win. Matanzas defeated Mayabeque 3-2 in the group’s other match.

In Group C, Camagüey Bulls secured their semi-final spot despite a 0-1 loss to Las Tunas. Qualification was determined by their head-to-head record favouring Camagüey 5-1. Ciego de Ávila beat Sancti Spíritus 3-2 in the group’s other fixture.

For Group D, Granma Stallions guaranteed playoff advancement with a 7-2 victory over Holguín, who committed three errors. Reliever Yurisen Blanco earned his second win with seven strikeouts over 4.0 innings. Leonardo Alarcón went 3-for-2 with an RBI. Guantánamo edged Santiago de Cuba 5-4 in the group’s other contest, scoring all five runs in the fifth inning off just one hit (Yolivan Martínez’s double) while capitalising on three walks and an error.

In Group A, Pinar del Río knocked out Isle of Youth 10-0 while Havana defeated Artemisa 9-5. Havana and Pinar remain tied atop the group (11-4), with both teams having a three-game sub-series remaining against Isle of Youth.

Camagüey and Granma will contest the Eastern Zone semi-final, while Villa Clara awaits the winner of Group A from the Western Zone.