Matanzas welcomed its Cocodrilos this Sunday with sirens, applause, and cheers after being crowned champions of the 64th National Baseball Series with a 4-0 sweep over Las Tunas and a decisive 11-0 knockout in the fourth game.
The team’s caravan traveled through the main streets of the so-called Athens of Cuba amid a massive celebration that made people forget, at least for a few hours, the hardships the city and the country are facing.
From early in the morning, entire families dressed in the colors of the team took to the streets to greet the monarchs, who were unable to play any of the final matches at their headquarters, Victoria de Girón, due to fuel shortages for transportation.
A particularly emotional moment, detailed the official newspaper Girón, took place at Entre Puentes, where the team led by Armando Ferrer was welcomed with cheers and extended applause. Ferrer, who has won three titles in the last six years at the helm of the Cocodrilos, expressed his gratitude for the popular support and acknowledged that the journey has not been easy. The coach has faced serious health challenges recently.
Captain Eduardo Blanco also emphasized the cohesion of the group and the collective commitment not to return to the territory without the trophy. His remarks were backed by the cheers and excitement of those present, the report highlights.
The Cuban baseball final was sealed on Saturday the 14th, when Matanzas crushed their opponent at the Latinoamericano Stadium in Havana. In that match, the Yumurinos scored seven runs in the first inning, three in the second, and one more in the fifth. Their pitcher, Yamichel Pérez, stayed on the mound for the entire game without giving up any walks.
A series in crisis
The fact that, for the first time in history, a final was held on neutral ground due to the logistical impossibility of transporting the teams, left a sad feeling among fans, which, despite its decline, remains the national sports passion.
With a record of 12-2 in the postseason and a run differential of +58, resulting from 115 runs scored and 57 allowed, Matanzas closed the tournament with authority, demonstrating sustained dominance throughout the championship, emphasized sports analyst Miguel Ernesto Gómez Masjuán. However, he opined that this victory cannot be viewed in isolation from the context in which it occurred.
"It was a tournament marked by constant logistical problems. Matches were suspended and piled up, ultimately played under irregular conditions. Teams were inactive for weeks. Administrative decisions impacted competitiveness," stated the journalist and university professor, who did not hesitate to label it as "the worst National Series in history."
All of this highlighted the organizational fragility, the poor leadership from the Federation and the National Commission of that sport on the Island, and the structural deterioration currently affecting Cuban baseball, the specialist added.
After lifting the trophy, the Cocodrilos will represent Cuba in the third edition of the Baseball Champions League Americas 2026, scheduled to take place from March 24 to 29 in Mexico City.
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