The baseball stadium in the municipality of Amancio hosted a preseason matchup between the Las Tunas Leñadores (Lumberjacks) pre-selection and the Camagüey Toros (Bulls). The visit —more than just a simple training session— turned into a true sporting celebration for the residents, who got an up-close look at the team aiming to reclaim the national title.
The Leñadores' preparation has entered a crucial phase. Félix Núñez, one of the best pitchers Las Tunas has ever produced and now the pitching coach, explained the challenges facing the coaching staff. "We are preparing the pitching staff with this situation in mind. We’ve had several exhibition games —against Holguín and Granma— and, right now, we are looking to identify starters, long and short relievers," he noted.
Núñez was emphatic regarding player absences. "Yosmel Garcés won't be available, so we have to find another starter; we won't have Alejandro Meneses either. We are working hard on pitching right now, as it is our weakest point," the coach acknowledged. To compensate for these losses, the coaching staff is focusing on mastering breaking balls, aware that velocity is not their main strength.
Despite the difficulties on the mound, confidence in the offense remains unshaken. "Our strong suit is batting, and I believe it will prevail," Núñez stated. However, he warned about the demands of the upcoming tournament; with only 44 games, there is no margin for error. "It’s not like before, when there were 75 games, and our team would always get tougher after the 30th game. Now, we have to go all out from the start," he emphasized.
PHYSICAL PREPARATION AND NEW ADDITIONS
Rodolfo Díaz, one of the team's pitchers, shared details about his individual training. "We are preparing very well —increasing the workload, lifting weights, running, and focusing on control and pitching mechanics— so we can have a strong season and contend for the championship again," he commented.
Díaz also highlighted the integration of new talent. "Some “boys” coming up from the younger ranks have joined us; they are training right alongside us, and we are now fine-tuning the details to see who will make the final pitching roster," he said. He was clear about his role on the squad: "My function on the team has always been that of a bridge pitcher —handling the innings from the fifth onwards so the closer can finish the game. That’s the role I’ve been playing, and I need to keep doing it."
The pitcher himself assessed the condition of his teammates. "The hitters are in good competitive shape, even though the workload is heavy right now. We’ve seen that in the exhibition games," he stated.
“AMANCIO:” A TOWN DREAMING OF THE NATIONAL SERIES
Abeysi Pantoja, Lumberjacks’ manager, highlighted the support received in "Amancio" before discussing strictly sporting matters. "We proposed to the Baseball Commission that we hold at least one part of our preseason training in this municipality. We chose Camagüey as the opponent because it’s nearby. But we’re going to do everything possible to bring a National Series game to 'Amancio,' just like we did last year. It’s a great field, very well-maintained; they’ve worked hard on it," he noted.
Regarding the team's preparation, the Pantoja reported that they are currently in their sixth week of training. "We are one of the teams that have had the privilege of training for six weeks. We always aimed for a preparation period of eight to ten in our planning, and we are going to meet that goal," he affirmed.
Pantoja expressed his gratitude for the facilities and support provided by sports authorities and the government in Las Tunas, which have enabled this training stage to be run effectively. "Let's hope it yields results —that’s the main thing. We’re making progress, and the results will come; hopefully, we can once again bring the people of Las Tunas the joy of taking first place, or at least making the podium. But I won't settle for just any spot on the podium; I want the crown, and that’s what we’re working hard for," concluded the leader of the green-and-red squad.
