SOUTH WILLAMSPORT.- Marloon Herrera began to cry, tears of happiness. When Cuba was behind in the fifth inning of the first game of the Little League World Series On Thursday, Marloon hit a two-run double to give his team the lead. When the Czech Republic, representing Europe-Africa, changed pitchers, he ran to hug his third-base coach.
Cuba ended up winning 4-1 in the first meeting of this year for both teams. It is also the nation’s second appearance in the Little League World Series and it was an emotional one.
“Baseball is in the air in Cuba,” manager Everaldo Machado admitted Friday, reflecting on the victory and the team’s journey from the Santa Clara Little Leagues.
Cuban minor leagues and baseball officials established a relationship in 2019 to pave the way for Cuban teams to participate in the World Series last year and this year. In 2023, the Bayamo club had a difficult path with one-run losses to Japan and Panama, along with a victory against Australia.
It’s no surprise then that Cuban closer Yans Espinosa celebrated the final out Thursday by throwing his glove like Shohei Ohtani did when he struck out Mike Trout in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
In left field at Volunteer Stadium, Marloon dropped to his knees.
The team is taking advantage of its experience and was present on Friday in Venezuela’s 10-0 victory over Mexico, two rows ahead of the team they beat the day before. Japan was between the two teams.
It’s all worth it
After traveling 1,670 kilometers from his hometown of Villa Clara to South Williamsport, Machado acknowledged the team was under pressure early in the first game before the 11- and 12-year-olds stabilized.
Villa Clara is a small town where family and baseball are the foundation of the community.
The Cuban manager said that passion and joy off the field are the keys to the team – winning is a bonus, he added.
That attitude could be important for their upcoming match against Taiwan, which blanked Canada and Australia by a combined score of 19-0.
