DESPAIGNE SETS CUBAN HR RECORD, PLAYOFFS UNDERWAY

Alexei Bell’s Cuban National Series record of 31 homers in a season didn’t last long…Just one year, in fact. Alfredo Despaigne finished this winter’s regular season with 32 homers for Granma, and also won the Cuban RBI title with 97. He missed out on the Triple Crown, though, as Isla de la Juventud’s Michel Enriquez batted .401. Among pitchers, Pinar del Rio’s Yuniesky Maya led the league with 13 wins, while La Habana’s Yadier Pedroza’s 1.91 ERA was tops.


In playoff action, La Habana and Pinar del Rio are meeting in the Occidental Division finals, while Ciego de Avila will play either Villa Clara or Santiago de Cuba in the Oriental Division finals.