Sancti Spíritus (baseball)

Sancti Spíritus
League	Cuban National Series (Group B)
Location	Sancti Spíritus
Ballpark	José Antonio Huelga Stadium
Year founded	1977–78
Nickname(s)	Gallos (Roosters)
League championships	1979
2005–2006	58–32 (1st, Group B)
Semifinalist; lost to Industriales
Manager	Mario Zulueta
Uniforms
Home Away

Sancti Spíritus is a baseball team in the Cuban National Series. Sancti Spíritus, nicknamed the Gallos (Rooster) won the series championship in 1978–79. The team has advanced to the National Series semifinals in each of the past two seasons; 2004–05 and 2005–06.

Three Sancti Spíritus players; Frederich Cepeda, Yulieski Gourriel and Eriel Sánchez, were part of Cuba's team at the 2006 World Baseball Classic.

Team stadiums

Every time a season starts, the team not only plays at José Antonio Huelga Stadium; their official stadium, but they also play at other 7 stadiums:

• Genaro Melero Stadium – Jatibonico – The second most important besides José Antonio Huelga Stadium
• Mártires de Cabaiguán Stadium – Cabaiguán
• Luis Torres Stadium – Yaguajay
• Rolando Rodríguez Stadium – Trinidad
• Julio Antonio Mella Stadium – Taguasco
• Mártires de Río Zaza Stadium – La Sierpe
• Fidel Claro Stadium – Fomento

Current roster

• Catchers: Eriel Sánchez León, Yunior Ibarra and Niorquel Cervantes
• Infielders: Yunier Mendoza, José Carlos González, Yoandi Baguet, Daviel Gómez, Orlando Acebey, Javier Valdivia, Luis Daniel Serrano, Rodoleisis Moreno and Yankiel Mencía
• Pitchers: Yoen Socarrás, Yamichel Pérez, Javier Vázquez, Aldo Conrado, Pedro Álvarez, Ramón Zúñiga, Yoanny Hernández, Yoharisleyvis Panamá, Ariel Zerquera, Yaniesky Duardo, Osvaldo Santiago, Yudelvis Hernández, Camilo Tamayo and Yasmany Robert

National Series MVPs

The following Sancti Spíritus players have won the National Series MVP award.

• 1994 Lourdes Gourriel
• 2001 Maels Rodríguez
• 2005 Yulieski Gourriel

Other notable players include:

• Jose Antonio Huelga (pitcher) known as El Heroe de Cartagena (The Hero of Cartagena)
• Modesto Verdura (pitcher)
• Miguel Rojas (second base)
• Owen Blandino (infield)
• Antonio Muñoz (first baseman)
• Roberto "El Cana" Ramos (pitcher)
• Yovani Aragón (pitcher)
• Ifreidi Coss (pitcher)
• José Raúl Delgado (catcher)
• Luis Enrique Gourriel (outfield)
• Miguel Hernández (pitcher)
• Osvaldo Oliva (infield)
• Rigoberto Rodríguez (shortstop)
• Ruperto Zamora (first base)
• Ángel Peña (pitcher)
• Maels Rodriguez (pitcher)
• Lázaro Martínez
• José Méndez
• Tony Simó (pitcher)

Sources

• www.RadioCoco.cu
• www.Escambray.cu

Cuban National Series
West League	Group A Isla de la Juventud Matanzas Metropolitanos (Havana) Pinar del Río Group B Cienfuegos La Habana Province Industriales (Havana) Sancti Spíritus
East League	Group C Camagüey Ciego de Ávila Las Tunas Villa Clara Group D Granma Guantánamo Holguín Santiago de Cuba
Defunct teams	Agricultores Azucareros Citricultores Forestales Ganaderos Granjeros Henequeneros Mineros Occidentales Oriente/Orientales Vegueros
Seasons	1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16
Awards	Most Valuable Player Rookie of the Year