Guantanamo to host second Cuban Youth Baseball5 National Championship in May
After the provincial games, the best players of each province will compete in the regional phase. The top two provinces of each region will qualify for the nationals.
The Cuban National Baseball Commission announced that the Eastern Province of Guantanamo will host the second edition of the Youth Baseball5 National Championship in May. Players born between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2007 qualify to participate.
"We decided to go back to Guantanamo because 2023 is an important year for this age bracket, and we wanted experienced hosts for the National Championship," commented Eros Bernal Morales, the Baseball5 Commissioner in Cuba.
Morales is targeting the first WBSC Youth Baseball5 World Cup, which is due to be held later this year. "We have high expectations, but we are also aware that many countries are developing competitive Baseball5."
The Cuban Youth Baseball5 season will open in February with the Provincial Leagues. The best players of each province will then participate in the regional phase.
Ciego de Ávila will host the Central Provinces. Camaguey, Sancti Spiritus, Villa Clara, Cienfuegos and the host province will compete from 16 to 19 March.
The Western Provinces will gather in Artemisa. The hosts, Pinar del Rio, Havana, Mayabeque, Matanzas and the special municipality Isla de la Juventud, will compete from 23 to 26 March.
Guantanamo will host the Eastern Provinces. Santiago de Cuba, Granma, Las Tunas, Holguin and Guantanamo will compete from 30 March to 2 April.
The top two finishers of each region will qualify for the National Championship. If Guantanamo fails to qualify, they will receive a Wild Card, making the National Championship a seven-team tournament.
Artemisa is the defending Cuban Youth Baseball5 National Champion. Santiago de Cuba finished second, and Guantanamo third in the inaugural edition.
