Matanza Cocodrilos defeated Artemis Cazodores, 4-2, in the best-of-seven final series to claim the second Cuban Elite League title. They succeeded Agricultores, the team representing the Granma and Las Tunas provinces and renamed Las Tunas Leñadores this year.
Final Series Results
Matanzas-Artemisa 6-5
Artemisa-Matanzas 6-3
Matanzas-Artemisa 8-4
Artemisa-Matanzas 3-2
Matanzas-Artemisa 3-2
Matanzas-Artemisa 12-5
Matanzas manager Armando Ferrer credited Artemisa.
"We were the favourites, but I always said it would need six or seven games, and that happened. We were depicted as a super team. Probably, we didn't turn out that way, but I think we fielded a good team and deserved to win."
In Game Six, Cocodrilos outscored and outhit Cazadores in a sold-out Victoria de Giron Stadium in Matanzas. Reliever Noervys Entenza pitched three scoreless innings for the win. He didn't allow a run in 9.1 innings during the playoffs. Frank Luis Medina, who plays for Pinar del Rion in the National League, pitched 3.1 innings for the save.
Matanzas captain Eduardo Blanco earned the series MVP honours. The centre fielder posted a .417 batting average.
The Cuban winter season is not over yet. From 28 January to 2 February, the Elite League champions Matanzas, an Elite League All-Star and selections from Venezuela and Mexico, will compete in the inaugural Elite League All-Star Series in Matanzas.
