The Villa Clara baseball squad is scheduled to face the Cienfuegos Elephants on August 20 at Estadio 5 de Septiembre in Cienfuegos, according to the Provincial Baseball Commission of Cienfuegos. The pre-season exhibition match begins in the morning with public admission open to fans from both provinces as teams gear up for the upcoming 65th National Baseball Series.
Training Schedule and Roster Adjustments
Ramón Moré Flaqué, manager of the Villa Clara Leopards, stated to the media that the current training schedule remains active, though he did not rule out potential adjustments to the pre-competition calendar due to ongoing logistical challenges affecting both the province and the country. Because the contest serves purely as a preparation match, the coaching staff has not yet named a starting pitcher or confirmed a fixed batting order.
In recent days, the orange squad added pitchers Javier Mirabal—who returns following a stint in Caribbean baseball—and José Luis Brañas from Sancti Spíritus to their pre-selection roster, according to journalist Dayron Pérez Urbano of CMHW radio.
Format and Timeline of the 65th National Baseball Series
The 65th National Baseball Series officially opens on October 4 under a revised competition structure. The tournament features 16 clubs from across the country divided evenly into two zones, each containing equal groups. The preliminary phase consists of 44 games per team, split between 24 intra-group matchups and 20 contests against opponents from the alternate section within the same zone, as outlined by the national baseball federation.
Next Steps and How to Follow
Teams will continue their pre-competition training blocks and exhibition matches leading up to the official Opening Day on October 4.
