CUBA – The Lions put all Villa Clara’s party plans on hold, and they are coming back.

Alexander Malleta hit a double in the top of the sixth sending home Tabares with the decisive sixth run of the game and reliever Armando Rivero won again and Industriales tied the best-of-seven series.

Ahead 4-0, the Orangemen watched Industriales score three times in the fourth and fifth innings changing completely the face of Game 6 that for the first third of the game it was in Villa Clara’s hands.

In the top of the fifth, Stayler singled to center and moved to second in a conservative sacrifice bunt by catcher Frank Camilo. Then Raiko Olivares tied the game with double, and moved to third when Tabares singled to left, Carrillo loaded the bases walking Barroso, and Urgellés drove in Raiko with a sacrifice fly that put Industriales ahead, 5-4, for the first time in the night.

Villa Clara couldn’t replicate its winning formula from Game 2, when Pestano hit a solo homer and the team scored three times while Carrillo pitched a two-hitter shutout. This time, Pestano was 0-for-4 and Carrillo allowed six runs – three unearned – and they couldn’t help his team.

Industriales starter Ian Rendón gave up a run in the first inning. He walked Martín, allowed Yuniet Flores’ single to right but dominated Zamora in a grounder double play scoring Martín.

In the second the Orangemen scored two more runs against Rendón. Pitching on regular rest didn’t work well for the lefty, who kept the Orangemen off balance in Game 3 but couldn’t manage the pressure of Game 6. He kept falling behind batters and allowed three runs, three hits and three walks in just one inning – didn’t get any out in the second – his shortest start of the 2010 postseason.

The Orangemen increased their lead in the bottom of the third against first Industriales reliever Armando Rivero. Andy Zamora started the inning with a single and scored when Borrero doubled to right and right fielder Serguei Pérez made an error.

After that inning, the right-hander settled in pitching 5 2/3 innings and allowing two runs on five hits while struck out four and walkedtwo. In the bottom of the seventh, with already 103 pitches and few less miles on his fastball, Rivero was replaced – a little late -by manager Germán Mesa.

In that inning and after two outs, Rivero walked Martín – bad symptom – who stole second and scored on Yuniet Flores single to left that cut the deficit to 8-5. Then Villa Clara gave Industriales a scare when Andy Zamora singled to center moving Flores to third and bringing home Ariel Borrero.

Manager Mesa replaced Rivero and lefty Yohandry Portal came in to end the inning dominating Borrero in grounder to short.

This time Borrero couldn’t repeat his performance of Game 5 when he made an error but delivered the go-ahead run in the eight.

Borrero was one of the problems starter Carrillo had in the game, when the first baseman made a crucial error in the top of the fourth inning over Malleta (pictured) grounder, that allowed Industriales to score twice cutting the deficit 4-2 and leaving the inning wide open for more runs.

Portal ended the game pitching 2 1/3 innings and allowing two hits and no runs in a saver performance that allowed Industriales to advance to Game 7 tonight

Game 7 will be played Wednesday night at Augusto César Sandino, with Industriales’ Arleys Sánchez going on regular rest against Luis Borroto, also rested.

If the Lions come back to win consecutives Game 6 and 7 of the Series, Villa Clara manager Eduardo Martín will be widely second-guessed for his pitching decisions in Games 3 and 4.

Villa Clara, trying for its first title since 1995, still has strong memories from 1994, when they led Industriales three games to two before losing Game 6 at Sandino Stadium. But that year Villa Clara came back strong in Game 7 and lead by Rookie catcher Ariel Pestano, outfielder Michel Perdomo and starter Rolando Arrojo, beat Industriales 4-3 in Game 7 of the Series winning its second consecutive championship.

Visit BaseballdeCuba for complete Cuban baseball news, stats and videos.

Ray Otero can be reached at: elistas@baseballdecuba.com

EUROPE – The 2010 Top European Player Series continues today with a look at the first basemen, which features some of the top power-hitting sluggers on the old continent.

BaseballdeWorld will introduce readers to the top players (position-by-position) in Europe from March 29 to April 4.

The rankings are put together by BaseballdeWorld Managing Editor Marvin Moore, who won four Swiss championships in six seasons while compiling an .863 winning percentage from 1993-1998 with the Therwil Flyers and Zurich Challengers. Moore has also been covering the European baseball scene since 2007.

This 2010 Top European Player Series will be updated each month with the sole purpose of allowing international baseball fans an opportunity to learn more about the top players in Europe. Rankings will be based on monthly individual statistics and strength of league.

Below are our preseason picks for the Top 10 first basemen in Europe:

1. Lino Connell, Danesi Nettuno (Italy, pictured)
The 37-year-old finished third in the IBL batting race in 2009 with a .354 (56-for-158) batting mark while tallying 10 doubles, five homers, 27 walks, nine stolen bases and 24 RBIs.

2. Richard Montiel, Tenerife Marlins (Spain)
Legitimate power hitter belted eight home runs a year ago and was batting .441 (15-for-34) with four homers and 13 RBIs after eight games this season.

3. Rafael Jozefa, Corendon Kinheim (Netherlands)
Batted .303 (36-for-119) with six doubles, two homers, 18 RBIs and 21 runs scored in 2009.

4. Giuseppe Mazzanti, Danesi Nettuno (Italy)
2008 batting champion collected 10 doubles, six home runs, 37 walks, 28 runs scored and 33 RBIs last season.

5. Jairo Ramos, Fortitudo Bologna (Italy)
Best hitter for Italy in last year’s IBAF Baseball World Cup hit .283 (41-for-145) with four home runs, nine doubles and 24 RBIs in 2009 for Grosseto.

6. Ludwig Glaser, Buchbinder Legionaere (Germany)
Former minor leaguer batted .378 (34-for-90) in 2009 to finish third in the bundesliga batting race with seven doubles and 27 RBIs.

7. Jose Luis Riera, Sant Boi (Spain)
Entered Week five in the Spanish League hitting .483 (14-for-29) with eight extra-base hits, 14 runs scored and 18 RBIs in just eight games.

8. Björn Schonlau, Paderborn Untouchables (Germany)
Versatile slugger who can also pitch and play catcher hit .381 (32-for-84) with 15 runs scored and 21 RBIs.

9. David Leander, Tranas (Sweden)
Had a .995 fielding percentage last season while batting .350 (40-for-114) with three homers, nine doubles and 19 RBIs.

10. Jens Heymer, Mannheim Tornados (Germany)
Batted .372 (29-for-78) with nine doubles, two home runs and 15 RBIs in 2009.

Photo courtesy of FIBS

TAIWAN – Mired in the CPBL cellar, the La New Bears needed some help above Sunday against the Uni-President Lions. No problem.

Zhan Zhi-Hao touched reliever Shen Bai-Cang with a game-tying base hit with two outs in the ninth, and Huang Lung-Yi finished off the improbable 4-3 comeback win with a walk-off double three frames later.

American Ken Ray scattered three runs over 5 1/3 innings before the Bears’ bullpen limited the Lions to just a lone score the final 6 2/3 frames.

The Bears’ Lin Zhi-Sheng added a two-run shot in the third off Wang Jing-Ming, and Marshall McDougall homered and tallied a pair of RBIs for the Lions.

With the win, the Bears improved to 2-3-2 while the reigning league champion dropped to 4-4.

Photo courtesy of Taiwan Baseball

Source: Pro Baseball Taiwan

GERMANY – The Mannheim Tornados of the German League have signed Americans Dennis Kelly and Cory Stevens for the 2010 season. The Tornados will open play on April 5 against the Buchbinder Legionaere.

Kelly is a shortstop who suited up for the Karlskoga Bats (Sweden) in 2008, and the Montpellier Barracudas (France) last year. The former Austin College (Sherman, TX) standout has been named the league’s top hitter the past two seasons.

The 26-year-old batted .512 to win the Swedish League batting crown two season ago. The native Texan also led the league in runs (46) and hits (62), while collecting six triples, 12 doubles, five home runs and 34 RBIs.

Last year, Kelly batted .411 in the French League with five triples, eight doubles and 23 RBIs.

Stevens is an infielder/pitcher who also attended Austin College. The 22-year-old finished his collegiate career with an 8-17 record with a 7.06 ERA and 138 strikeouts. At the plate, he batted .293 with 10 doubles, 29 runs, and 35 RBIs in 87 games.

Photo courtesy of Mannheim Tornados

EUROPE – The 2010 Top European Player Series continues today with a spotlight on the men behind the dish. From Italy to German, Spain and the Netherlands – and even Switzerland – the European baseball scene features an abundance of talented catchers.

BaseballdeWorld will introduce readers to the top players (position-by-position) in Europe from March 29 to April 4.

The rankings are put together by BaseballdeWorld Managing Editor Marvin Moore, who won four Swiss championships in six seasons while compiling an .863 winning percentage from 1993-1998 with the Therwil Flyers and Zurich Challengers. Moore has also been covering the European baseball scene since 2007.

This 2010 Top European Player Series will be updated each month with the sole purpose of allowing international baseball fans an opportunity to learn more about the top players in Europe. Rankings will be based on monthly individual statistics and strength of league.

Below are our preseason picks for the Top 10 catchers in Europe:

1. Sidney de Jong, L&D Amsterdam (Netherlands)
Batted .333 (49-for-147)in 2009 with eight doubles, 21 RBIs, 30 walks and 31 runs scored in an “off” year after hitting .360 with six homers in 2008.

2. Simon Gühring, Heidenheim Heidekopfe (Germany)
Former Brewers prospect with Herculean physique mashed the ball to the tune of .449 (40-for-89) with nine doubles, four homers, 22 runs scored, 16 RBIs and 11 stolen bases.

3. Dewis Navarro, Danesi Nettuno (Italy)
Spanish national team standout hit .339 (43-for-127) with two home runs, 12 doubles, 23 runs scored, and 26 RBIs in his first season in the Italian Baseball League.

4. Juan Angrisano, Fortitudo Bologna (Italy)
Batted .312 (49-for-157) with eight doubles, four homers, 36 RBIs and 22 runs scored in 2009.

5. Mark Duursma, Konica Minolta Pioniers (Netherlands)
Drew a whopping 40 walks last season while hitting .307 (46-for-150) with 39 runs scored, 31 RBIs, six doubles and five stolen bases. Cut down 18 of 44 base runners.

6. Ruben Cabrera, San Inazio (Spain)
The 28-year-old former minor leaguer is hitting .360 (9-for-25) with five walks and six RBIs heading into the fifth week of the Spanish League schedule.

7. Maikel Benner, L&D Amsterdam (Netherlands)
Hit .316 (50-for-158) with five doubles, 15 RBIs and 32 runs scored.

8. Trevor Howell, Dortmund Wanderers (Germany)
The 26-year-old Californian batted .411 (37-for-90) in 24 games last season with nine doubles, four home runs and 21 RBIs.

9. J.B. Tucker, Therwil Flyers (Switzerland)
The 28-year-old former Seattle Mariners prospect popped two doubles, a home run and tallied five RBIs in a recent exhibition game against top German club Solingen.

10. Orlando Diaz, FC Barcelona (Spain, pictured)
Entered the fifth week of the 2010 season batting .417 (10-for-24) with a homer, four doubles and 12 RBIs in six games.

Photo courtesy of Diego Lazaro

SPAIN – Hector Perozo, Larry Infante and Juan Jose Lopez all launched home runs and Navarra overcame a sluggish start to beat the Valencia Astros 12-8 Sunday in the second part of a twinbill.

Navarra (7-3) took the opening game 4-3 behind a strong relief outing from Perozo. The 26-year-old dual threat also homered while Inaki Alfonso added three hits to complement another solid start by staff ace Juan Jose Lopez (4-1).

Valencia (4-6) took a short-lived lead in the finale with a score in the second. But, Infante drilled a two-run drive to straightaway center field the following inning. The offensive fireworks continued in the bottom of the same frame as American slugger Kevin Malone belted a three-run shot to put the Astros back on top, 4-2.

The visitors inched closer with a run in the fifth before Valencia tallied four scores in the bottom of the same inning on a two-run hit by Sandel Cuevas, and a solo blast off the bat of Eric Cowes. But Navarra rallied in the sixth on a three-run homer by Lopez, and sewed up the doubleheader sweep with a six-run seventh highlighted by a three-run shot by Perozo.

Victor Martinez (1-0) came out of the bullpen to pitch one-hit ball over the final 4 1/3 innings to claim his first win of the season.

MARLINS REBOUND AGAINST HALCONES
The five-time reigning Spanish League champion Tenerife Marlins shook off a four-game losing skid with a pair of road wins over the Vigo Halcones this past weekend.

The Marlins (6-4) needed an extra frame to stop the Halcones 5-4 in ten innings. Both starting pitchers, Leslie Nacar and Roman Carrasco, limited opposing hitters to a pair of runs over nine innings to force an extra frame.

With the IBAF extra-inning rule in effect, Tenerife plated three runs off Carrasco (0-1) on a wild pitch and Richard Montiel’s two-run single to take a 5-2 lead. Vigo answered with a two-run double by Marcos Trillo before Nacar (3-2) fanned 44-year-old first baseman Juan Rodriguez to end the game.

Tenerife starter Ivan Granados (3-2) overpowered Vigo in the second game with a masterful three-hit outing that saw the left-hander punch out 12 hitters over eight scoreless innings in a 10-0 victory.

The Marlins drew 11 walks from three Vigo pitchers and eight players had at least one hit. First baseman Luis Landaetta belted a two-run double in a five-run ninth and finished the game with three RBIs.

Vigo (2-5) shortstop Henfel Delgado collected two of his team’ three hits.

Reliever Jorge Balboa worked the ninth and recorded three strikeouts.

SAN INAZIO SURVIVES UPSET BID
Carlos Vicario drew a ninth-inning walk with the sacks full and San Inazio Bilbao turned back upset-minded El Llano 9-4 Sunday in the first game of a doubleheader.

El Llano (0-9) transformed two errors, a wild pitch, and a hit into a first-inning run to take a 1-0 lead. The score remained unchanged until the sixth when San Inazio plated four scores with Asier Izaguirre delivering the biggest blow – a two-run double.

The Gijon club opened the bottom of the same inning with four consecutive singles but managed to score just a lone run. However, Coach Roberto Diaz’ squad pulled alongside San Inazio in the eighth on RBIs by Elvis Polanco and Juan Garcia.

San Inazio (5-5) squashed any upset hopes by El Llano with a five-run ninth aided by three walks, an error, and a wild pitch to make a winner out of Fidel T. Mane (2-3).

Hard-hitting shortstop Tony Granadillo had a pair of doubles and five hits, and Izaguirre added four hits as San Inazio used a 17-hit barrage to roll past El Llano 14-1 in the second contest to finish off the sweep.

Alberto Magallon and Andoni Ortiz (1-0) combined on a four-hitter to keep El Llano winless.

PAMPLONA RALLIES TO SALVAGE SPLIT
Aderly Grullon balked home Fernando Pelaez with the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth inning and Pamplona nipped Viladecans 12-11 Sunday to salvage a split in the weekend series.

Viladecans (3-7) won the opening matchup on Saturday 3-1 as Denny Nino belted his second home run of the season and Pol Llopis (2-2) racked up 12 strikeouts in a complete game effort.

The visitors overcame a 6-2 deficit with back-to-back four-run frames in the fifth and sixth to grab a brief 10-7 lead. But, Pamplona capitalized on three walks and a wild pitch to push across four scores in the bottom of the inning to hold a one-run advantage.

Miguel Catalan’s RBI sacrifice fly in the seventh knotted the score before Grullon was called for a balk with the bases loaded an inning later to force in the game-wining run.

Pamplona (4-6) was paced by three hits apiece by Eduardo Arrondo and Gabriel Guerrero, while Nino reached base five times for Viladecans on two walks and a trio of hits.

Urtzi Martorell (1-0) tossed one-run ball over 3 1/3 relief innings to earn the win.

Photo courtesy of Diego Lazaro

CUBA – Ariel Borrero delivered a clutch two-run single with a pair of outs in the ninth and the Villa Clara Orangemen moved to within one win of capturing the the Cuban League championship with a 6-3 win against the Industriales Lions Sunday at Latinoamericano Stadium in Havana.

The Orangemen, which claimed the first two games of the series at home before dropping games three and four on the road, leads the best-of-seven series 3-2.

The Lions came out roaring in front of a jam-packed crowd of 58,136. Yoandri Urgelles tagged Villa Clara starter Freddy Alvarez with a two-run shot in the opening frame for an early 2-0 lead. But the right-hander survived the four-hit frame and proceeded to blank the hometown squad over the next six innings.

A two-run double by veteran catcher Ariel Pestano gave the visitors their first taste of the lead in the eighth, 3-2, but Industriales answered back with a score in the bottom of the same inning to knot the score.

Borrero broke the 3-3 deadlock with a game-deciding blow off reliever Frank Menendez that plated two runs, and Pestano added another RBI hit with two outs to put the Lions on the brink of elimination.

Yasmany Hernandez came out of the bullpen to tally two outs to pick up the win. Yolexis Ulacia registered the final two outs to earn the save.

The Orangemen and southpaw Robelio Carrillo will look to end the series on Tuesday night at Augusto César Sandino Stadium, while Industriales and left-hander Ian Rendón will try to force a winner-take-all seventh game.

Visit BaseballdeCuba for Cuban baseball news, stats and videos.

UNITED STATES – Former minor league All-Star corner infielder Mike Thompson is seeking to play for a European team in the upcoming 2010 season.

The Wichita, Kansas native earned Second Team West Coast Conference (WCC) honors at Santa Clara in 2004 when he batted .321 with 16 doubles, three homers and 33 RBIs.

The 26-year-old spent two seasons with the Houston Astros organization (Lexington Legends and Salem Avalanche) before playing one year in the Kansas City Royals farm system with the Burlington Bees.

The 6-foot-4 slugger joined the independent circuit in 2008 and batted .305 for the Wichita Wingnuts. He also played for the Camden Riversharks that same year before returning to the Wingnuts last season.

Thompson set multiple defensive records for a third baseman during the 2008-2009 campaigns, and was second in the American Association last year with 32 doubles.

Contact this free agent at: mthompson15@hotmail.com

Photo courtesy of Wichita Wingnuts

UNITED STATES – A series of college baseball camps have been planned from coast to coast in unison with baseball instructors from Kansas, Georgia State, Notre Dame, Florida State and dozens of others. This two day event, open to high school players, will center on mental development and will include intense one-on-one training with elite college coaches and off-field mental training sessions.

2010 Summer Baseball Camp Schedule

“EXACT camps are a tremendous opportunity for H.S. players and college coaches. They feature D1 power-conference recruiting exposure, leading-edge mental training, and small-group instruction from some of the top coaches and programs in the nation” said Phil Van Horn, Assistant Coach at Cal State Northridge.

Over 80 college programs use EXACT’s mental training program and these same tools are now available to high school players at this showcase style baseball event.

“This college baseball camp is designed so that coaches know the athletes before they step on the field,” said EXACT’s Director of Baseball, Chad Ehrnsberger. “All information gathered on each athlete will be stored in a development profile for each player.”

The camp was created to allow athletes to better understand the importance of the mental game within their training. Athletes will also leave the camp with a detailed review of their performance and a better understanding of their mental abilities for playing in college.

“This college baseball event brings the best of all worlds together – clinic work, skills showcase & evaluation as well as one-on-one player review sessions,” said Ehrnsberger. “It’s a program that provides a superior way to develop into a college capable player.”

ABOUT EXACT SPORTS
EXACT Sports believes that better outcomes are achieved through better information. EXACT is a science-based organization with over 10 years of research, 400+ academic manuscripts, and staff in the fields of statistics, biochemistry, genetics, mathematics, kinesiology and psychology. EXACT has developed the only proven integrated model of outcome-based player development.

Read more about EXACT Sports at www.exactsports.com/baseball.

Photo courtesy of topvelocity.net

MEXICO – It’s one of the maxims of baseball in spring that hitters will be ahead of pitchers, but nowhere was that more apparent than in the Mexican League last Saturday night.

Laguna posted a 24-10 drubbing of Nuevo Laredo in Torreon as the Vaqueros collected 27 hits to go along with five Tecolotes errors. The game was a scoreless tie until the bottom of the second as Ivan Araujo went 5-for-6 for Laguna (who surprisingly had no homers in the rout).

Things weren’t much better for Yucatan the same night as the Leones were on the short end of a 20-8 pasting in Puebla. The Pericos put this one out of reach early by scoring 10 runs in the first inning, including six off Leones starter Salvador Arellano (who failed to retire any of the six batters he faced). Rene Reyes was 4-for-6 for Puebla, who had no homers among their 22 hits.

FERNANDEZ TAKES MANAGERIAL REINS IN TABASCO
It’s not unusual to see teams change managers during the season, but one week into the schedule?  The Tabasco Olmecas have done just that by bringing former Mexico City Diablos Rojos skipper Daniel Fernandez to Villahermosa to replace Gustavo Llenas after just five games in the 2010 season. The Olmecas lost all five contests prior to Fernandez’ March 22 hiring.

The 44-year-old Fernandez was one of Mexico’s top players during his long career with the Diablos, and is considered by many observers to be the greatest leadoff hitter in Liga history. He ended his 25-year career in 2007 with 2,648 hits for an average of .313, is the LMB’s all-time leader in runs scored with 1,836 and stands third with 478 lifetime stolen bases.

MARTINEZ REACHES 1,000-GAME MARK
Quintana Roo Tigres third baseman Abel Martinez played in his 1,000th Mexican League game last Wednesday night when the defending southern champions squared off against the Puebla Pericos in Puebla’s Parque de Hermanos Serdan. The Los Mochis native, who turns 33 next month, began his Liga career with the old Cancun Langosteros in 1996.

MEXICAN PLAYERS BEGIN SEASON OVERSEAS
A trio of Mexican ballplayers began their 2010 regular seasons in Asia. Former Padres second baseman Edgar Gonzalez made his debut with Tokyo’s Yomiuri Giants last week, drawing a walk and scoring a run in the Giants’ 4-1 Central League win over the Yakult Swallows in front of over 44,000 fans at the Tokyo Dome. Yomiuri is the defending league champion.

Two other Mexicans are playing in the Korea Baseball Organization. Karim Garcia, who has become a huge star in South Korea, blasted a homer for the Lotte Giants in a 3-2 opening day loss to the Nexen Heroes, while pitcher Edgar Gonzalez went five strong innings for the LG Twins in their 7-5 win in 11 innings over the Samsung Lions. Gonzalez left the game with a 4-2 lead.

Bruce Baskin is the Editor/Producer at the Baseball Mexico website

Photo courtesy of www2.esmas.com

Visit Baseball Mexico for the latest Mexican League news.

EUROPE – With the 2010 European baseball season preparing to begin in earnest this weekend with the top leagues in Italy and Germany following Spain in opening their schedules, BaseballdeWorld will introduce readers to the top players (position-by-position) in Europe from March 29 to April 4.

The rankings are put together by BaseballdeWorld Managing Editor Marvin Moore, who won four Swiss championships in six seasons while compiling an .863 winning percentage from 1993-1998 with the Therwil Flyers and Zurich Challengers. Moore has also been covering the European baseball since 2007.

This 2010 Top European Player Series will be updated each month with the sole purpose of allowing international baseball fans an opportunity to learn more about the top players in Europe. Rankings will be based on monthly individual statistics and strength of league. And, a top player on a mediocre team will not be penalized for the shortcomings of his teammates.

Below are our preseason picks for the Top 10 shortstops in Europe:

1. Juan Carlos Infante, Bologna (Italy)
Speedy 28-year-old Venezuelan switch-hitter batted .321 (44-for-137) with eight doubles, two homers, 15 RBIs, 36 runs scored and 10 stolen bases in 2009.

2. Johnny Carvajal, Telemarket Rimini (Italy)
One of Europe’s elite hitters batted .361 (61-for-169) with two triples, four homers, 29 runs and 30 RBIs for Cariparma Parma a year ago.

2. Tony Granadillo, Pamplona (Spain)
25-year-old Venezuelan batted .287 in 478 minor league games and was the leading hitter in the Spanish League after eight games with a .548 batting mark (17-for-31) and two homers.

3. Marco Yepez, Cariparma Parma (Italy)
Former Washington Nationals prospect played eight seasons in the minor leagues and most recently suited up for the La Guaira Tribunes in the Venezuelan Winter League.

4. Danny Gonzalez, Telemarket Rimini (Italy)
Former minor league switch-hitter played in all 42 regular season games last season with 52 hits, 14 doubles, three homers, 20 RBIs and 38 runs scored.

5. Mervin Gario, Konica Minolta (Netherlands)
Batted .305 (32-for-105) with nine doubles, 22 walks, 29 runs, 17 RBIs and nine stolen bases for the 2009 Dutch League runner-up.

6. Dirimo Chavez, HCAW (Netherlands)
The 26-year-old Venezuelan national team middle infielder batted .396 with 21 RBIs in the Spanish League a year ago before having a monster tourney at the Baseball World Cup with 12 runs and 13 RBIs.

7. Nestor Perez, Tenerife Marlins (Spain, Pictured)
Playing coach won back-to-back titles in his first two years (2008 and 2009) at the helm and is batting .394 (13-for-33) with five doubles during the first eight games of this season.

8. Chris Beck, Heidenheim Heidekopfe (Germany)
Aussie slugger has batted .474 while tallying 85 runs, 59 RBIs and 37 stolen bases during a two-year stint with the Solingen Alligators.

9. Dennis Kelly, Mannheim Tornados (Germany)
Batted .411 with five triples, eight doubles, 29 runs and 23 RBIs last season for the French League club Montpellier Barracudas last season.

9. Adeyinka Adewusi, Tranas (Sweden)
Batted .369 (34-for-92) with 15 extra-base hits, 28 runs and 18 RBIs while playing stellar defense with a .952 fielding percentage.

10. Octavio Medina, Paderborn (Germany)
Batted .403 (25-for-62) with six extra-base hits with 17 runs, four stolen bases and 24 RBIs in 18 bundesliga games in 2009.

Photo courtesy of Diego Lazaro

NETHERLANDS – The six-team field for the 2010 Haarlem Baseball Week has been finalized with the Venezuelan national team set to make their first appearance at the international baseball tournament.

The 25th edition of the event will be held from July 9-18 at the Pim Mulier Stadium in Haarlem.

Besides newcomer Venezuela, other participating squads includes national teams from Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), Cuba, Japan and the Netherlands. The United States will also be represented by a team of minor league players.

2010 HAARLEM BASEBALL WEEK SCHEDULE:

FRIDAY, JULY 9
Japan vs Venezuela
USA vs Chinese Taipei

SATURDAY, JULY 10
Cuba vs Japan
Netherlands vs Chinese Taipei

SUNDAY, JULY 11
USA vs Cuba
Japan vs Netherlands

MONDAY, JULY 12
Chinese Taipei vs Cuba
Venezuela vs USA

TUESDAY, JULY 13
Chinese Taipei vs Venezuela
Netherlands vs Cuba

WEDNESDAY, JULY 14
USA vs Japan
Venezuela vs Netherlands

THURSDAY, JULY 15
Cuba vs Venezuela
Netherlands vs USA

FRIDAY, JULY 16
Chinese Taipei vs Japan
2nd Place vs 3rd Place

SATURDAY, JULY 17
5th Place vs 6th Place
1st Place vs 4th Place

SUNDAY, JULY 18
2nd vs 3rd Loser vs 1st vs 4th Loser
2nd vs 3rd Winner vs 1st vs 4th Winner

Visit the Haarlem Baseball Week website

COLOMBIA – Venezuela erupted for six runs in the first inning and completed a perfect trek at the IX South American Games Saturday with a 10-8 win against Colombia to claim the gold medals.

Argentina surprised the Netherlands Antilles 8-6 to win the bronze medal game.

Venezuela finished the tournament unbeaten in five games and outscored their opponents by a margin of 53-22. Humberto Querales had three hits and Jonathan Sivira homored as the tournament favorites trounced Argentina 11-1 on Friday behind a strong outing by Oswaldo Perdomo to reach the championship game.

The host nation fought back from an early six-run hole and got back into the game in the sixth on a towering home run off the bat of Carlos Villalobos. The 34-year-old utility man recently signed with the North East Knights of the Italian Baseball League.

But manager Henry Campos’ squad regrouped to silence the bats of Colombia the rest of the game to clinch the tournament title.

FINAL STANDINGS:
1 – Venezuela (5-0)
2 – Colombia (3-2)
3 – Argentina (1-4)
4 – Netherlands Antilles (1-4)

Source: EFE

EUROPE – Although the Spanish League in Spain has already completed five weeks of action, the upcoming European baseball season will kick into high gear over the next two weeks as some of the top leagues on the old continent unwrap their 2010 schedules.

The Italian Baseball League (IBL) will open the gates on Thursday, April 1, with four games. The reigning IBL champion Fortitudo Bologna will begin defense of their crown against the North East Knights.

The 2010 German League will get underway on Saturday, April 3, and the reigning Bundesliga champion Heidenheim Heidekoepfe will begin defense of their title the following day against the Saarlouis Hornets.

Below are brief capsules of some of the top baseball leagues in Europe:

AUSTRIAN LEAGUE
2010 Opening Day: April 17
2009 Champion: SUPERFUND Wanderers
Teams: Attnang-Puchheim Athletics, Rohrbach Crazy Geese, SUPERFUND Wanderers, Schwechat Blue Bats, Stock City Cubs, Schwaz Tigers, Union Kufstein Vikings and Vienna Metrostars.

BELGIAN LEAGUE
2010 Opening Day: April 10
2009 Champion: Hoboken Pioneers
Teams: Port of Antwerp Greys, Hoboken Pioneers, Brasschaat Braves, Deurne Spartans, Namur Angels, Merchtem Cats and Mortsel Stars.

CZECH LEAGUE
2010 Opening Day: April 11
2009 Champion: AVG Draci Brno
Teams: Kotlá?ka, Technika, Praha Eagles, MZLU Express, Ostrava Arrows, Navisys Hroši, AVG Draci Brno and Skokani Olomouc.

DUTCH LEAGUE
2010 Opening Day: April 10
2009 Champion: DOOR Neptunus
Teams: Konica-Minolta Pioniers, Corendon Kinheim, L&D Amsterdam, Sparta-Feyenoord, Mr.Cocker HCAW, DOOR Neptunus, ADO and Almere Magpies.

FRENCH LEAGUE
2010 Opening Day: April 11
2009 Champion: Rouen Huskies
Teams: Senart Templiers, Savigny Lions, Montpellier Barracudas, Paris Universitie Club, Montigny Cougars, Rouen Huskies and STB Toulouse.

GERMAN LEAGUE
2010 Opening Day: April 3
2009 Champion: Heidenheim Heidekopfe
Teams: Solingen Alligators, Paderborn Untouchables, Pulheim Gophers, HSV Stealers, Bonn Capitals, Cologne Cardinals, Dortmund Wanderers, Buchbinder Legionaere, Heidenheim Heidekopfe, Mannheim Tornados, Mainz Athletics, Saarlouis Hornets, Gauting Indians and Haar Disciples.

ITALIAN LEAGUE
2010 Opening Day: April 1
2009 Champion: Fortitudo Bologna
Teams: T&A San Marino, Telemarket Rimini, Montepaschi Grosseto, North East Knights, Cariparma Parma, Fortitudo Bologna, Danesi Nettuno and Catania Warriors.

SPANISH LEAGUE
2010 Opening Day: March 27
2009 Champion: Tenerife Marlins
Teams: Valencia Astros, Sant Boi, Pamplona, Viladecans, FC Barcelona, Tenerife Marlins, Navarra and Vigo Halcones.

SWEDISH LEAGUE
2010 Opening Day: May 1
2009 Champion: Stockholm
Teams: Karlskoga Bats, Eskilstuna Hammers, Stockholm, Leksand Lumberjacks, Tranås, Sundbyberg Heat, Göteborg Hajarna and Gefle.

SWISS LEAGUE
2010 Opening Day: April 10
2009 Champion: Therwil Flyers
Teams: Bern Cardinals, Sissach Frogs, Therwil Flyers, Lausanne Indians, Zürich Barracudas, Zürich Challengers, Luzern Eagles and Embrach Mustangs.

Photo courtesy of Ferrini/FIBS

VENEZUELA – The Lara Cardinals of the Venezuelan Winter League has named John Tamargo as the new manager for the 2010-2011 season.

Tamargo, who will begin his fourth season coaching in Venezuela this year, is currently managing in the Seattle Mariners’ minor league system with the Clinton LumberKings (Midwest League).

The long-time minor league skipper has compiled a 1,089-960 record in a 27-year coaching career.

The Venezuelan Winter League comprises of eight teams in one single division which play 63 games from October to December.

ANZOATEGUI RELEASES SKIPPER
The Venezuelan Winter League club Anzoátegui Caribbeans has decided not to renew the contract of manager Omar Malavé for the 2010-2011 season. Anzoátegui has failed to reach the semifinal round the past two seasons.

Club president Rafael Gruzska, who informed Malavé of the difficult decision by the board of directors, will travel to the United States with other team officials in the first week of April to interview several candidates for the vacant managerial position.

Team officials also disclosed that the club would hire a foreign coach to lead the Caribbeans in their 20th anniversary season which begins in October.

Source: Noticias24

(Latin Beat is a weekly BaseballdeWorld feature written by Hector Ponce)

LATVIA – The first round of the 2010 Interleague season will be held in the Lithuanian city of Utena from April 30 to May 2. The second round is scheduled for June 28-30 in Riga.

The Latvian national team will be playing in group B together with Utenas Vetra (LT), Vilnius Juodasis Vikingas (LT) and Minsk (BL).

The Polish club Dzialdowo has been invited to participate in the interleague tournament this year for the first time.

Photo courtesy of Latvia Baseball

SOUTH KOREA – American pitcher Brandon Knight racked up seven strikeouts and Jin Kab-yong popped his second home run of the young season as the Samsung Lions beat the LG Twins 9-4 Sunday in action from the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO).

LG (1-1) raced out to a quick 3-0 lead in the opening frame. Lee Taek-geun plated the first run with an RBI single and later scored all the way from second on a wild pitch. Lee Jin-yeong finished off the early spurt with a run-scoring hit.

Samsung (1-1) put together a game-changing rally in the third to take control of the game. Choi Hyeong-woo’s bases-loaded single knotted the score briefly before Yang Joon-hyeok’s RBI groundout gave the Lions their first taste of the lead. Jin Kab-yong finished off the frame with an RBI single to make the score 5-3.

The Lions put the game out of reach an inning later with three runs highlighted by Jin’s second long ball in as many days.

Knight (1-0) scattered three runs on eight hits and two walks to pick up the win.

SK WYVERNS CLIPS EAGLES
A crucial throwing error ignited a three-run sixth and SK Wyverns dealt the Hanwha Eagles a 6-3 loss Sunday to give manager Kim Seong-geun his 1,100 career victory. Jeong Woo-ram (1-0) overcame a rocky start to get the win and closer Lee Seung-ho worked a pair of scoreless frames to notch his second save.

NEXEN SURPRISES LOTTE
Kang Gui-tae smacked his second home run and Collected four RBIs to help the Nexen Heroes pound the Lotte Giants 11-3. Kim Il-kyeong (2) and Yoo Han-joon (1) also went deep for Nexen to give Kang Yoon-guh (1-0), who allowed two runs and a pair of his in five frames, his first win of the year.

DOOSAN RALLIES PAST KIA
The Doosan Bears rallied from a 6-0 deficit to hand the reigning KBO champion Kia Tigers a 10-9 setback in a wild game on Sunday. Park Jeong-bae (1-0) came out of the bullpen to earn the win, and Lee Yong-chan picked up his first save of the season.

Visit True Stories of Korean Baseball for complete game recaps.

TAIWAN – Former Dmedia T-Rex second baseman Deng Shih-yang delivered a clutch pinch-hit walkoff single and the Sinon Bulls beat the Uni-President Lions 7-6 in 10 innings Sunday at Hsinchu Mincucipal Baseball Stadium.

The reigning Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) champion put the Bulls in an early hole. American import Marshall McDougal socked a two-run double in the third to give the Lions a 4-0 lead.

Sinon used a three-run uprising in the fourth to close the gap to a run, 4-3. But, Uni-President tallied a pair of sixth-inning scores to stretch the lead to 6-3.

The Bulls answered back with a three-run seventh to knot the game and set the stage for Deng’s late heroics.

Cheng Hong-da led off the 10th with an infield hit and moved into scoring position on an error by the Lions’ second baseman. Hsu Guo-long followed with a sacrifice bunt and Deng ended the rubber match with a walkoff RBI bloop single.

Shen Yu-jeh (1-0) tossed three scoreless relief innings to earn his first win of the season, while Lions’ closer Lin Yueh-ping was charged with a rare setback.

BEARS STOMP ELEPHANTS
Huang Chin-chih pitched five strong innings and the La New Bears unleashed a 14-hit attack to rout Brother Elephants 10-3 Sunday in Sinjhuang at Taipei County Baseball Stadium.

Huang (1-0), making his first start since 2004, silenced the Elephants lineup to just one run and five hits in an impressive outing.

Chen Yen-fong turned in a three-hit effort and drove in two runs for the Bears.

Photo courtesy of Pro Baseball Taiwan

CUBA – Yohandry Urgellés and Leugim Barroso had a perfect afternoon for the Industriales Lions and lefty Arleys Sánchez pitched brilliant sending the Cuban Finals to Game 5 against Villa Clara all tied up.

Urgellés and Barroso went 3-for-3 and 4-for-4 respectively, backing a sharp performance by Arleys Sánchez and giving the Lions an easy 11-1 victory over the Villa Clara Orangemen in seven innings in Game 4 on Saturday afternoon.

A day after having an offensive wake up in the opener 12-6 at legendary Latinoamericano Stadium in Havana City, the Lions went back to work and scored five times against rookie Villa Clara’ starter Yasmani Hernández in an interminable first inning, to take a 5-0 lead in the game.

In that inning the emblematic Blue team had eight consecutive hits against Yasmani and two relievers, giving manager Germán Mesa and left-hander starter Arleys Sánchez, a lot of peace for the rest of the game.

The team scored one more run in the second inning and two more in the fourth and fifth frames, extending the lead to a 10-0 after six innings played.

During that period, Arleys was magnificent, a totally different pitcher to the one everybody saw in Villa Clara during Game 1 of the Series. Arleys allowed only four singles, struck out two batters and walked none for his first win of the 2010 Finals.

In the top of the seventh and on the verge of ending the game by the mercy rule, Villa Clara scored its first run against reliever Alexander Carrera, who allowed two singles and walked one. Carrera left the game and reliever Brian Ruíz got the final two outs of the inning.

The Lions managed one run in the bottom of the seventh – number 11 – to finally end the game by the mercy rule.

Yasmani Hernández was the loser and Arleys Sánchez got the win.

The Series will continue today at Latinoamericano Stadium, and Freddy Asiel Alvarez starts Game 5 for the Orangemen against Odrisamer Despaigne for the Lions.

Industriales with Saturday’s win even the series at two games apiece and Game 6 will be celebrated in Villa Clara regardless of today’s outcome.

After a day off, Game 6 will be at Villa Clara on Tuesday night.

Visit BaseballdeCuba for complete Cuban League news, stats and videos.

Ray Otero can be reached at: elistas@baseballdecuba.com

SOUTH KOREA – Former Doosan Bear pitcher Geum Min-cheol scattered two runs over six inings and the Nexen Heroes slipped past the Lotte Giants 3-2 Saturday on opening day in the Korea Baseball Organization.

Kim Min-woo tagged Lotte starter Ryan Sadowski for a solo home run in the first, and Park Gui-tae added a two-run shot an inning later for the Heroes.

The Giants appeared to pull even in the ninth when Kim Ju-chan launched a deep fly ball that either bounced off the top of the right field wall or was interfered with by a fan. Umpires ruled it a ground rule double and Heroes reliever Son Seung-rak retired the next two hitters to earn the save.

Geum (1-0) picked up the win while Sadowski (0-1) was saddled with the loss.

DOOSAN KNOCKS OFF KIA
2009 batting champion Kim Hyeon-su opened the new season with four hits and the Doosan Bears used a big inning to cruise to an 8-3 win over the reigning KBO champion Kia Tigers.

Goh Yeong-min and Lee Seong-yeol both went deep off Kia starter Aquilino Lopez (0-1) in a six-run third that saw the Bears stroke five extra-base hits.

Kelvin Jiminez (1-0) allowed four hits and two runs in five innings to notch the win.

SK SLIPS PAST HANWHA
Ken Kadokura overcame an early two-run blast by Kim Tae-wan and SK Wyverns nipped the Hanwha Eagles 3-2 in Saturday’s season opener for both teams.

Kim put the Eagles up 2-0 in the first before Kadokura (1-0) settled down to throw six scoreless frames. The Japanese hurler fanned six while giving up eight hits and two walks to nab the win.

Hanwha starter Jose Capellan (0-1) gift-wrapped a pair of scores in the bottom of the first with two wild pitches, and Jeong Geun-woo singled home the eventual game-winning score in the third.

LG STOPS SAMSUNG
Park Yong-geun singled home a pair of runs in the 11th inning and Shinya Okamoto struck out Shin Myeon-cheol with the sacks full to end the game as the LG Twins claimed a suspenseful 7-5 win against the Samsung Lions.

Oh Ji-hwan and Lee Jin-yeong both homered for the Twins, while Jin Kab-yong went deep for the Lions.

Lee Dong-hyeon (1-0) picked up the win and Okamoto was credited with the save.

Samsung reliever Baek Jeong-hyeon (0-1) was charged with the loss.

Visit True Stories of Korean Baseball for more KBO news.

CUBA – Industriales brought its fans to their feet time and time again with five home runs on Friday in a 12-6 route over Villa Clara in game three of their best-of-seven championship baseball series.

The game — witnessed by 39,381 fans— was actually a close 2-2 tie through the first three innings but Industriales scored two in the fourth and four in the fifth to bust the game open.

Stayler Hernandez had two homers and four RBIs and Alexander Malleta hit a four-bagger and drove in four runs as well to lead Industriales. The other home runs came from Yoandri Urgelles and Rudy Reyes.

Villa Clara’s Luis Borroto went 3.1 innings in taking the loss allowing five hits and the first four Industriales runs. Then came a string of relievers who couldn’t put down Industriales.

Misael Silverio was the hardest hit giving up four more runs on four hits in only 1.1 innings.

For Industriales starter Ian Rendon was gone after three innings and played no role in the decision. The winning pitcher was reliever Armando Rivero who tossed 4.0 innings allowing six hits and three runs.

Villa Clara now leads the series 2-1 and games four and five will take place at the same Latinoamericano Stadium in the capital on Saturday and Sunday.

Visit BaseballdeCuba for complete Cuban baseball news, stats and videos.

Ray Otero can be reached at: elistas@baseballdecuba.com

JAPAN – Tetsuya Utsumi tossed eight innings of one-run ball and the Yomiuri Giants opened Central League action with a 4-1 win against the Yakult Swallows Friday in the season opener for both teams at Tokyo Dome.

The Swallows capitalized on an errant throw by Yomiuri shortstop Hayato Sakamoto in the fourth to grab a 1-0 lead. However, Yoshinobu Takahashi’s run-scoring base hit in the bottom of the same frame knotted the score.

Takahashi, who batted .469 (15-for-32) with four home runs during the preseason, is hopeful of a banner campaign after enduring injury-plagued seasons the past two years.

The Giants pulled away an inning later on a clutch hit by slugger Shinnosuke Abe. The All-Star catcher who smashed 32 homers last season singled up the middle with the sacks full to give Utsumi and the defending Japan Series champion a 3-1 lead.

Former major leaguer Alex Ramirez added an insurance run in the sixth to finish the scoring.

Utsumi (1-0), coming off a 9-11 record in 2009, racked up 10 strikeouts and limited Yakult to four hits and two walks in a sparkling outing.

Closer Mark Kroon collected the final three outs to seal the opening day win.

HIROSHIMA STOPS CHUNICHI (CL)
Kenta Maeda threw eight strong innngs and added an RBI single and the Hiroshima Carp beat the Chunichi Dragons 3-1 at Nagoya Dome.

HANSHIN MAULS YOKOHAMA (CL)
Former Seattle Mariners catcher Kenji Jojima tallied three hits and four RBIs and the Hanshin Tigers overcame an early 3-0 deficit to beat the Yokohama BayStars 7-3 at Kyocera Dome.

ORIX ROUTS SOFTBANK (PL)
Alex Cabrera and Shogo Akada combined for eight RBIs, and Kazuki Kondo fanned 11 over eight innings to lead the Orix Buffaloes to a lopsided 16-1 win against the Softbank Hawks at Yahoo Dome.

LOTTE POUNDS NIPPON HAM (PL)
Yoshihisa Naruse scattered a lone run in eight innings and both Tomoya Satozaki and Tsuyoshi Nishioka popped two-run homers as the Lotte Marines cruised past the Nippon Ham Fighters 9-1 at Chiba Marine Stadium.

Visit JapanBall.com for complete NPB news, stats and standings.

UNITED STATES – A week after pulling a blockbuster six player trade with the Laredo Broncos of the United League the Scorpions have signed major league veteran pitcher Bill Pulsipher and former two-time Northern League All-Star infielder Carlos Duncan.

The 6’3″ lefthander put in six full seasons in the major leagues with the New York Mets, Milwaukee Brewers (2 seasons), Arizona Diamondbacks, Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox and St. Louis Cardinals. He has appeared in 106 major league games including 42 starts with a career 13-19 record and 5.15 ERA.

His minor league totals, mostly at the AAA level, include a record of 86-82 and an ERA of 3.94. Pulsipher will also act as the Scorpions pitching coach.

Duncan was the first player ever signed by Young for the 2005 Calgary Vipers and was named to the Northern League All-Star team that season. In 2007 he added to his honors hitting.350 for Calgary with 13 home runs and 82 RBI.

That season he was not only named to the NL All-Star team but was also chosen by Baseball America as an All-Star on its All-Independent League team. “Carlos and I have a five year history”, added Young. “He’s coming off a 13 home run season in Edmonton and will definitely add some power to the lineup”.

The Scorpions are expected to add at least two more former major leaguers to their roster in the new week.

Field Manager Darryl Brinkley will host a Scorpions Free Agent camps in Yuma in early May and will attend the combined Northern League-GBL Free Agent weekend in Scottsdale in early April.

AUSTRALIA – Wayne Lundgren has become the first pitcher since 1986 to win the prestigious Helms Award.

Dating back to 1962, the Helms Award is regarded as Australian Baseball’s most prestigious award; and is awarded based on a players merit in Claxton Shield competition.

Previous award winners include; been awarded to players such as David Nilsson, Ray Michell, Doug Mateljan, Don Knapp, Brad Harman and Neil Page.

2010 saw one of the most tightly contested Helms Award polls in many years; with two votes separating each of the three nominees.

However, the winner of the 2010 Helms Award – polling close to the maximum in all six quality outings to see him lead all candidates with 30 total votes and become the first pitcher to win the Helms award since Victorian Lindsay Orford in 1986……..was New South Welshman, Wayne Lundgren.

Winner: Wayne Lundgren (RHP – NSW Patriots)

New South Wales’s Wayne Lundgren has long been one of the Claxton Shield’s most feared pitchers. The towering right hander uses a mix of control, deception and overall pitching guile to near perfection, and his 2010 campaign was no exception. Making 8 starts for the NSW Patriots, Lundgren compiled a 3-1 record to compliment and impressive 3.02 ERA– but those numbers become staggering when you consider his quality starts throughout the year. Lundgren lasted at least 5 innings or more six times throughout the year and during those starts allowed a total of just 3 runs over 33.1 innings while striking out 28 and walking just 3 batters.

Runner Up: Paul Mildren (LHP – South Australia)

Paul Mildren announced his return to the forefront of Australia’s elite pitchers this year in emphatic style. After a lengthy year in the US; book-ended by both World Baseball Classic and World Cup duties with the National team; Mildren turned his focus to his native South Australian side in their storied return to Norwood Oval. High amongst the League leaders in Innings pitched, strikeouts, ERA and wins; Mildren was the staff “ACE” on a club that turned a miserable 2009 campaign, into the near storybook worst-to-first finish this year. Always the consummate professional, his tenacity on the mound was second to none; highlighted by a completed game effort against eventual champions Victoria in his “must-win” final start of the regular season.

Runner Up: Michael Collins (Catcher – South Australia)

Without the benefit of his hometown Canberra fielding a team in 2010, Michael Collins jumped at the opportunity to be the everyday catcher for South Australia this year – and certainly didn’t disappoint his adopted state.

Making his debut in Round 3; Collins made an immediate impact hitting a home run and driving in 3 runs in his first game for SA.

From that point on Collins simply devoured opposing pitchers; compiling a gaudy .417 season batting average while leading the league in Home Runs, slugging percentage and On-base Percentage; as well as ranking highly in nearly all other offensive categories.

Most impressive however was a remarkable stretch where Collins hit safely in 9 straight at bats, while slugging 4 home runs and knocking in 11 RBI.

Source: Australian Baseball Federation