{"id":198817,"date":"2019-05-16T13:29:46","date_gmt":"2019-05-16T17:29:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/?p=198817"},"modified":"2019-05-16T13:29:46","modified_gmt":"2019-05-16T17:29:46","slug":"cuba-little-league-the-agreement-still-stands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/sports\/baseball\/cuba-little-league-the-agreement-still-stands\/","title":{"rendered":"Cuba-Little League: the agreement still stands"},"content":{"rendered":"

The <\/span>cancellation<\/span><\/a> of the <\/span>Agreement<\/span><\/a> between Cuba and MLB captured media attention and for many it meant the return to a gloomy period for Cuban baseball. But after that blow, contrary to what one might think, there is still a light at the end of the tunnel in terms of balls and strikes on the island….<\/span><\/p>\n

We\u2019re talking about the Memorandum of Understanding between the Cuban Baseball Federation and Little League Baseball, a <\/span>pact<\/span><\/a> focused on the growth of the children’s movement (children between four and 12 years old) through more than 150 local development programs, including the renovation of playing fields, delivery of equipment and support for tournament-related trips.<\/span><\/p>\n

Signed in Havana last March with the presence of Stephen D. Keener, president of the Little League, the agreement placed Cuba in an ideal situation to rescue the precarious base of the national sport, in the shadows for years due to the almost total absence of resources and the marked neglect of local areas.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The base of Cuban baseball needs an important injection of implements and resources to improve local playing fields. Photo: Taken from Eawaz.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“I\u2019ve been able to see first-hand the passion for baseball in Cuba, where many children love and play the game. I\u2019ve also seen the opportunity to help them with equipment and resources that would help bring the countless benefits of the Little League to more children,” said Keener during his visit to Havana, after which hopes were genuinely renewed to rescue the sport of balls and strikes on the island, at a time when the agreement with MLB was also in force.<\/span><\/p>\n

Two months after that event, the agreement for the organized flow of Cuban players to MLB was canceled and little is known about the implementation of the Memorandum. However, the agreement between the Cuban Federation and the Little League remains in force, it has not died. This was assured to OnCuba<\/strong> by sources from the summit of baseball on the island, who preferred not to address in depth the most sensitive topic of this agreement: the creation of the Little Cuban League.<\/span><\/p>\n

A priori, the emergence of this link is one of the transcendental points of the pact, precisely because it would allow the injection of resources and implements directly to the base, where today there are the greatest needs and where more should be explored to discover and develop talents.<\/span><\/p>\n

The creation of the Little Cuban League would open playing spaces which the island doesn\u2019t have at present, because the School Games and the junior National Championships are far from what baseball needs to get out of the depression in which its entire structure has been submerged.<\/span><\/p>\n

Apart from this step, the Memorandum also offers Cuba the opportunity to insert its young hopes into the Little League’s competitive system, starting with the regional echelon.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Congratulations to the Havana kids and coaches…history made today..first Cuban champions earn a mid July trip to Cura\u00e7ao for the Caribbean Regional Tournament with dreams of Williamsport and the @LittleLeague<\/a> World Series…thanks @CubanaBeisbol<\/a> for hosting national tournament. https:\/\/t.co\/icxs7CGHy8<\/a><\/p>\n

— Steve Keener (@littleleagueceo) May 11, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n