The man with the bat at home plate is Ariel Pestano. The image dates back from last Saturday in Mexico, in Veracruz Winter League. Theplayer wears the uniform of the Coatzacoalcos Industriales, his left knee is dirty, smeared with mud, maybe he tried to steal a base before the snapshot was taken or just one of his sublime juggling behind the plate has damaged the neat presence of his uniform.
That day the season opened and with it the walk of Pestano in that league. Remember that a few weeks ago the Villa Clara’s player arrived atAztec territory with a media uproar that denotes the longing of thousands of followers, the departure, perhaps, of the last of the Mohicansamong catchers, one of the greatest catchers born in this country .
He is so great that few have been able to say goodbye like him, with the emotion resulting in tears, I do not remember anyone who has said goodbye hitting a decisive home run on a National Series, and it is not just what that hit meant, which is already epic in Cuban baseball annals, but the undeniable connotation of the fact of giving back a title to a province that dreamed of that night during 16 years.
On the background of the picture, i.e. in the Coatzacoalcos Industriales´ dugout, you can appreciate part of the team watching what will be an at-bat and I say will be because I’m not sure Pestano to have made swing to that pitch specifically. Within that group must be Pedro Luis Lazo Iglesias, and if he is not there is just because he has always been too restless to sit on the bench.
A giant of the mound, a machine gun throwing sliders, supersonic fastballs and changes up, a man made to face battle and with the chest upright to the worst of rivals.
But fate has willed that Lazo and Pestano to coincide again on a baseball field after a long time, in the old style, as in Winnipeg, Sydney, and Athens or, as in the most exciting of the time, in San Diego: the time of the 1st World Baseball Classic semifinal against the Dominican Republic at Petco Park.
That time, during the ninth inning of a thrilling match (baseball in Cuba usually removes existence), when Lazo with his legendary 99 stuck tohis back, looked at second base, for the runner not to advance too much, detailed the signs that Pestano gave him with his fingers hidden behind the glove and threw a slider seeming a knife, which left paraplegic the superb Alfonso Soriano and thus Cuba reached the final of theWorld Baseball Classic.
With the ball in his gloved hand, Pestano jumped up and ran straight to the mound to embrace Lazo, instantly all Cuban delegation came fromthe bench, but that hug, that initial image of Pestano and Lazo embraced on the mound and Pestano holding up the winning ball and Lazolaughing above Pestano is definitely one of the most splendid moments of sport in Cuba.
Now they both are finishing their successful careers in Mexico, in the Coatzacoalcos Industriales.
Returning to the photo , that day’s opponents were the Acayucan Tobis. Pedro Luis Lazo was the starting pitcher and at a few feet, with his knees bent, wearing mask and chest protector and at the height of a child, was Ariel Pestano, who made signs with his fingers and they worked together to win the game. Lazo pitched six innings allowing just one earned run with six strikeouts. Meanwhile, Pestano contributedwith one hit to the cause of the Coatzacoalcos.
