Press conference on the 8th Under-23 Baseball Championship

Havana, June 11 (RHC) Everything is ready in Cuba for the start of the 8th National Under-23 Baseball Championship next weekend, announced today at a press conference the Cuban Baseball and Softball Federation (FCBS, for its Spanish acronyms).

Technical director Humberto Guevara confirmed that the teams representing the country's 16 provinces will be divided into four groups (two from the west and two from the east) and will play 18 games, six against each opponent in their grou, with seven-inning games scheduled throughout the week, except on Mondays and Fridays, with doubleheaders on Saturdays.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals, and the winners of those matchups will compete for the national title in a best-of-three series, the official added.

The official opening will be at Guillermón Moncada Stadium in Santiago de Cuba, with a game between the hosts and the Holguín team.

Group A will consist of Havana, Artemisa, Pinar del Río, and Isla de la Juventud; Group B will consist of Matanzas, Mayabeque, Villa Clara, and Cienfuegos; Group C will consist of Camagüey, Ciego de Ávila, Sancti Spíritus, and Las Tunas; and Group D will consist of Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, Granma, and Holguín.

Guevara also pointed out that during the competition, there will be no additions or removals, except when the rosters fall below 25 athletes, due to injuries or contracts abroad.

In addition, it was announced that it is mandatory to field a youth player in each game, who will have at least one appearance at bat.

In previous editions, the champions were Artemisa (2014), Santiago de Cuba (2016 and 2017), Isla de la Juventud (2018), Sancti Spíritus (2019), and Villa Clara (2022).

Source: Prensa Latina