Villa Clara (baseball)

Villa Clara
League	Cuban National Series (Group, Eastern)
Location	Santa Clara
Ballpark	Estadio Augusto César Sandino
Year Founded	1961
Nickname(s)	Naranjas (Oranges), Azucareros (Sugar-makers)
League championships	1968–1969, 1970–1971, 1971–1972, 1982–1983, 1992–1993, 1993–1994, 1994–1995 (7)
Last season	50-39 (4 Group, Eastern) classified Playoffs =Play off; Lost to Ciego de Avila (baseball)
Manager	Eduardo Martín Saura
Uniforms Home Away

Villa Clara is a baseball team in the Cuban National Series. Based in Santa Clara, the Naranjas (Orange) or Azucareros (Sugar-makers) have been one of the league's most successful squads over the last 30 years, winning championships in 1983, as well as three year run from 1993, 1994 and 1995. They also lost the 1996, 2003, 2004 and 2010 finals to Industriales. Orange, White and Black are their colors, although they have three differents colors the Orange is what represent them, though teams like Sancti Spíritus Gallos also have Orange uniforms. Four Villa Clara players (Ariel Borrero, Luis Borroto, Eduardo Paret and Ariel Pestano) were on Cuba's roster at the 2006 World Baseball Classic.

Four Villa Clara players (Eduardo Paret, Ariel Pestano, Leonys Martín and Yolexis Ulacia) were on Cuba's roster at the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

History

Villa Clara was known as the Azucareros (sugar-makers) at that time there were Provincias of Ciego de Avila, Cienfuegos, Sancti Spíritus and Villa Clara all as one single team. The name Azucareros (sugar-makers) was to represent the workers of all Sugar Mills of Cuba. Under the name Azucareros (Sugar-makers) won three championships (1969) (1971) (1972). After the separation of the teams Villa Clara became (Las naranjas mecánica) or (Las naranjas explosivas) which are other nicknames (but not official), with the new change Villa Clara won the series in (1983) led by Eduardo Martín Saura and three consecutive years(1993) (1994) (1995) led by Pedro Jova.

Pitchers

• 15 Freddy Asiel Álvarez
• 14 Rogelio Carrillo
• 26 Luis Borroto
• 92 Yolexis Ulacia
• 48 Misael Siverio
• 19 Yasmani Hernández Romero
• 56 Yosvani Pérez Torres
• 76 Yuliét López
• 90 Yasmani Hernández Rojas
• 88 Yasmani Junquera
• 41 Alain Sánchez
• 74 Yurién Vizcaino
• 46 Yamián Hourrutinier
• 95 Yoandy Fernández
• 43 Diosdani Castillo

Infielders

• 13 Ariel Pestano
• 64 Yulexis la Rosa
• 45 Yuselvis Águila rookie
• 53 Ariel Borrero
• 51 Yuniel Cabrera
• 63 Yandry Canto
• 11 Yeniét Pérez
• 2 Eduardo Paret
• 6 Aledmis Díaz
• 7 Yaxiel Quirós
• 1 Yandy Díaz
• 57 Jefferson Delgado

Outfilders

• 66 Ramón Lunar
• 3 Andy Zamora
• 67 Yuniet Flores
• 35 Dián Toscano
• 4 Alejandro García rookie

Director

• 39 Eduardo Martín Saura

Assistants

• Luis Jova and Amado Zamora

General coach

• Ernesto Ruiz

Pitching coaches

• Rodney Aguiar and Arael Sánchez

Physician

• Dr. Barbaro R. Willington

Psychologist

• Ramón Alvaredo

Massage

• Ovidio Rodriguez

Batboy

• Roberto Jiménez

Cuban National Series MVPs

• Modesto Verdura P Azucareros
• Antonio Muñoz 1B Azucareros
• Isidro Pérez P Azucareros
• Amado Zamora RF Villa Clara
• Oscar Machado LF Villa Clara

Other notable players

• Aquino Abreu (pitcher)
• Jorge Díaz
• Pedro Jova (shortstop)
• Angel López
• Víctor Mesa (outfield)
• Alberto Martínez (catcher)
• Silvio Montejo (outfield)
• Eliecer Montes de Oca (pitcher)
• Eduardo Paret (shortstop)
• Lázaro Pérez (catcher)
• Ariel Pestano (catcher)
• José Ramón Riscart
• José Riveira
• Eddy Rojas (outfield)
• Reinaldo Santana
• Jorge Toca
• Rolando Arrojo
• Ariel Borrero (first baseman)
• Luis Borroto (pitcher)
• Andy Zamora
• Leonys Martin
• Luis Jova

Emigrants

Several Villa Clara players have left Cuba to try to play in the Major Leagues.

• Rolando Arrojo
• Yuniesky Betancourt
• Liván Hernández
• Dayán Viciedo

• won Serie de nacional Championships in 1969, 1971,1972.

Cuban National Series