HAVANA.- (ACN) The ballparks Victoria de Giron, in Matanzas province; José Ramón Cepero (Ciego de Avila) and Martires de Barbados (Granma) will today host the first matches of the second stage of the 56th Cuban Baseball National Series.

The first of them will host the subseries between the Matanzas Crocodiles and Camagüey Bulls, while the Ciego de Avila Tigers, current national champions, will receive the visit of Holguin Cubs, and the Granma Alazanes will play as home club against the Villa Clara Oranges.

For this second phase of the national pastime, the six teams qualified reinforced their lineups with five players each depending on their needs and possibilities when choosing.

Pitcher Frank Monthiet, outfielder Stayler Hernandez and infielder Juan Carlos Torriente, all from Industriales (IND); first baseman William Saavedra, from Pinar del Río (PRI) and reliever Danny Aguilera, from Isla de la Juventud (IJV) joined Matanzas.

Roger Machado, Ciego de Avila´s manager, chose pitchers Vladimir Baños and Raidel Martínez, both from Pinar del Rio, slugger Edilse Silva, from Santiago de Cuba (SCU); closer José Ángel García, from Artemisa (ART) and third baseman Donald Duarte (PRI).

Granma opted for catcher Frank Camilo Morejón (IND); pitchers Miguel Lahera (ART) and Yoelkis Cruz, Las Tunas (LTU); outfielder Dennis Laza, from Mayabeque (MAY) and lefty reliever Leorisbel Sánchez, from Cienfuegos (CFG).

Meanwhile, Villa Clara´s coaching staff requested the services of pitchers Yosvani Torres and Yaifredo Domínguez (PRI); infielders Alexander Malleta (IND) and Michael González (MAY) and outfielder Reinier León (PRI).

Noelvis Gonzalez, Holguin´s inventive manager, chose lefty pitchers Livan Moinello (PRI) and Wilber Perez (IJV) and right handers Noelvis Entenza (IND) and Dairon Riera (GTM), in addition to outfielder Yusnel Ibañez (CFG).

Finally, Orlando Gonzalez, Camaguey´s head coach and debutant in these stages, recruited pitchers Erlis Casanova (PRI) and Danny Betancourt (SCU); outfielder Julio P. Martinez (GTM); infielder Yordanis Alarcon (LTU) and catcher Rafael Viñales (LTU).

Matanzas, (42 wins and 3 losses), Ciego de Avila (29-16), Villa Clara and Granma (both 27-18) directly qualified to this stage as leaders of the standings, while Holguin (26-19) and Camagüey (24-21) got the wildcards.

This second phase will have 45 games, nine against each of the rival teams, and the top four squads will advance to semifinals.