Without succumbing to the ghosts of past defeats and fueled by a delirious fanbase, Las Tunas dashed the final hopes of Pinar del Río on Sunday with a 6-1 victory, securing the playoff final 4-1 to reaffirm themselves as the current champions of Cuban baseball.
In a packed Julio Antonio Mella Stadium, the Leñadores showcased their dominance with a five-run rally in the eighth inning, breaking the 1-1 tie and sealing the curtains on the 63rd National Series. Offensively, a crucial factor was the two-run homer by the young Jean Lucas Baldoquín and a clutch hit driving two more runs by the veteran outfielder Yuniesky Larduet.
The pitcher, Rodolfo Díaz, did his part on the mound, throwing five innings and allowing only one run, while the closer Alberto Pablo Civil finished the game without any complications in the ninth inning. Despite having a historic season, the Vegueros fell short at the decisive moment.
The Las Tunas team thus claimed their third domestic title, following victories in 2019 under the leadership of Pablo Civil and in 2023 by Abeysi Pantoja, who now has a remarkable double achievement on his resume.
Championship Teams and Their Coaches in Cuban Baseball
- 1962: Occidentales (Fermín Guerra)
- 1963: Industriales (Ramón Carneado)
- 1964: Industriales (Ramón Carneado)
- 1965: Industriales (Ramón Carneado)
- 1966: Industriales (Ramón Carneado)
- 1967: Orientales (Roberto Ledo)
- 1968: Habana (Juan Gómez)
- 1969: Azucareros (Servio Borges)
- 1970: Henequeneros (Miguel A. Domínguez)
- 1971: Azucareros (Servio Borges)
- 1972: Azucareros (Pedro P. Delgado)
- 1973: Industriales (Pedro Chávez)
- 1974: Habana (Jorge Trigoura)
- 1975: Agricultores (Orlando Leroux)
- 1976: Ganaderos (Carlos Gómez)
- 1977: Citricultores (Juan Bregio)
- 1978: Vegueros (José Miguel Pineda)
- 1979: Sancti Spíritus (Cándido Andrade)
- 1980: Santiago de Cuba (Manuel Miyar)
- 1981: Vegueros (José Miguel Pineda)
- 1982: Vegueros (Jorge Fuentes)
- 1983: Villa Clara (Eduardo Martín)
- 1984: Citricultores (Tomás Soto)
- 1985: Vegueros (Jorge Fuentes)
- 1986: Industriales (Pedro Chávez)
- 1987: Vegueros (Jorge Fuentes)
- 1988: Vegueros (Jorge Fuentes)
- 1989: Santiago de Cuba (Higinio Vélez)
- 1990: Henequeneros (Gerardo Junco)
- 1991: Henequeneros (Gerardo Junco)
- 1992: Industriales (Jorge Trigoura)
- 1993: Villa Clara (Pedro Jova)
- 1994: Villa Clara (Pedro Jova)
- 1995: Villa Clara (Pedro Jova)
- 1996: Industriales (Pedro Medina)
- 1997: Pinar del Río (Jorge Fuentes)
- 1998: Pinar del Río (Alfonso Urquiola)
- 1999: Santiago de Cuba (Higinio Vélez)
- 2000: Santiago de Cuba (Higinio Vélez)
- 2001: Santiago de Cuba (Higinio Vélez)
- 2002: Holguín (Héctor Hernández)
- 2003: Industriales (Rey Vicente Anglada)
- 2004: Industriales (Rey Vicente Anglada)
- 2005: Santiago de Cuba (Antonio Pacheco)
- 2006: Industriales (Rey Vicente Anglada)
- 2007: Santiago de Cuba (Antonio Pacheco)
- 2008: Santiago de Cuba (Antonio Pacheco)
- 2009: La Habana (Esteban Lombillo)
- 2010: Industriales (Germán Mesa)
- 2011: Pinar del Río (Alfonso Urquiola)
- 2012: Ciego de Ávila (Roger Machado)
- 2013: Villa Clara (Ramón Moré)
- 2014: Pinar del Río (Alfonso Urquiola)
- 2015: Ciego de Ávila (Roger Machado)
- 2016: Ciego de Ávila (Roger Machado)
- 2017: Granma (Carlos Martí)
- 2018: Granma (Carlos Martí)
- 2019: Las Tunas (Pablo Civil)
- 2020: Matanzas (Armando Ferrer)
- 2021: Granma (Carlos Martí)
- 2022: Granma (Carlos Martí)
- 2023: Las Tunas (Abeysi Pantoja)
- 2024: Las Tunas (Abeysi Pantoja)
Las Tunas' Victory in Cuban Baseball Championship
Here are some frequently asked questions regarding Las Tunas' historic victory and the Cuban baseball championship.
How many titles has Las Tunas won in Cuban baseball?
Las Tunas has won three domestic titles, securing victories in 2019, 2023, and 2024.
Who were the standout players in the final game?
Jean Lucas Baldoquín and Yuniesky Larduet were pivotal, with Baldoquín hitting a two-run homer and Larduet driving in two more runs.
Who managed Las Tunas during their championship victories?
Pablo Civil managed the team in 2019, while Abeysi Pantoja led them to victory in 2023 and 2024.