By Lisa McGregor - from  Kitchener's Highlander Team

 

Team Canada arrived in Cuba on a Saturday morning.  As with the rest of the week, the sun was shining and it was quite warm.  A small meeting was held to go over some last minute details, then it was off to the pool, the golf course or the beach.  After sunset again we had many choices.  Do we eat at one the restaurants in the hotel, go to a local disco, the disco in the hotel, or to a local=s home for supper?

 

On Sunday morning, the team had it=s first ever practice together.  Three of the guys play ball in Kitchener, while the other eight play on various teams in Toronto.  After a couple of hours in the hot Cuban sun, the boys were ready for some refreshments by the pool.  Some of us soaked up some local culture this night by going to a Cuban disco in Varadero.  It was a lot of fun and led to the first of many now familiar sayings from Cuba.  On this particular occasion it was, AWhat is that black shite on my arm?@

 

On Monday we had a double-header scheduled.  We found out rather quickly that our second saying would become, AThat=s Cuba time.@, which basically meant get used to waiting.  Delays meant that only one game would be played today which gave us more time for our third saying, AHavana Special!@.

 

The Cubans for Team Puntarena did well in their first game of slo-pitch.  Team Canada had few hits as they lost 17 to 4.  To be fair to our boys, the umpire was not calling any balls or strikes (strike zone) so the Cuban players basically waited for something flat that they could hit.  Also, our guys have never played together and haven=t played for about four months.  Al King had the first hit and scored the first run for Team Canada.  Scott Pearce hit Team Canada=s first home run.

 

The language barrier presented some challenges but no international incidents.  We found out rather quickly that we were expected to share all of our equipment.  When you bring  an expensive bat and don=t want to share it with the other team, they don=t understand.  Some of the bats Team Canada brought represent two years= wages for these guys.

 

After the loss, the pool and the swim up bar were very popular spots.  It was on this day (I think, things are a little fuzzy) that Team Canada and their friends drank the bar out of Tequila (good job Lobster Boy!), Rum (how do you drink a Cuban bar out of Cuban rum??!!) and cups.  Get ready for the fourth saying, We ran them out of cups, AFor the love of God!@.

 

Tuesday saw another double header become a single header (does that just make a header?) -sorry ;).  On this day, Team Canada beat the Cuban Team Rumbos 14 to 11.   Team Rumbos made a good comeback attempt in the last inning where they scored 6 runs.  Team Canada used a mat today to keep the calling of balls and strikes a bit more fair.  The Cuban teams both have a strong defense, so Team Canada needed to hit and pitch well to win.  Scott Pearce hit 3 home runs and scored in all four of his at bats.  The three Highlanders also hit home runs today.

 

Since the next day was a day off for the team, everyone took advantage of the drinks on Tuesday.    After the game, it was back to the pool for more cold ones!  There was always something going on by the pool.  Another familiar saying from this week was (Hey York) AHow you doin=?@.  And by the way Steve, how did you get back to the room in one piece?  ARRRGGOOSSS!

 

On Wednesday, nine of us rented scooters for the day.  Our >bike gang= prowled up and down the highway and the streets of Varadero.  We stopped at a marina, a place where you could swim with the dolphins, a sea-doo safari, and a pirate bar built into a cave - cool!!  Unfortunately, we also spent some time at the local garage since Brian=s scooter had a flat back tire.  Ridin= on the rim on the highway wasn=t his idea of a good time, so we did some off roading to make the journey to the garage a little safer.  Joe and Glen spent their time traveling by rental car to Havana and Al ventured out on his own to make friends with the local people.  After dinner, some of us went back to a pirate bar where we saw the Cuban version of a cabaret.  It was very impressive, wasn=t it Kenny?  For neither the first or the last time on this trip we heard the now familiar, AWhat happens in Cuba, stays in Cuba.@

 

Thursday was Team Canada=s final game.  An earlier double header between the two Cuban teams was canceled.  The tournament rules made this game the one that would determine the champion of the first ever Canadian/Cuban Slo-Pitch Games.  Both Team Canada and Team Puntarena entered this game with one win apiece.  Team Puntarena struggled when forced to use a mat.  It was still basically a strike zone but the ball had to hit the mat to be a strike.  I think we=ve all seen umpires pick a place on the ground that the ball has to hit to be called a strike so this wasn=t much different.  Ken pitched well for Team Canada and went 5 for 5 to help his cause.  Bob managed to play even though he could barely walk after flipping his scooter.  What a trooper!!  Puntarena gave up over ten walks in this game, which helped propel Team Canada to a 24 to 12 win.

 

Congratulations Team Canada!! And now for my favourite familiar saying, AHUUURRRRAAAAYYY!!@ (God I miss that!)  Team Canada celebrated the win on the field with the Cubans and some cold ones. Yoel from Team Puntarena announced the win over the speaker system near the pool.  Hey, you guys are famous!

 

On this night, Team Canada, Ross and the Lisas went to see a professional baseball game in the nearby city of Matanzas.  Us Canadians enjoyed some brewskis on the bus and sang an emotional version of Oh Canada.  The game went quickly without the commercial time outs and the local team won.  The quality of ball was similar to the Major Leagues (or at least AAA).  There were some pretty big differences in equipment between here and Cuba.  We saw cracked batting helmets, taped up batting gloves and the entire team appeared to have only five bats.  Also, in Cuba, you don=t keep the balls hit into the stands.  There is a co-ordinated effort to track down balls (even those hit out of the stadium) and put them back in play.

 

Friday was our last full day in Cuba.  By this time, Team Canada was starting to mellow a bit.  A week of Cuban sun, slo-pitch and rum will do that to a person.  Steve, Scott M., Kenny, and Scott & Lisa got in a final game of golf, Lisa M. did some scuba training in the pool, Tim went out in the ocean for some scuba diving and I think all of us were hangin= by the pool at one point or another.

 

This was the night for the BBQ banquet for Team Puntarena and Team Canada.  It was pretty neat to hang out with a bunch of guys who share a common love for ball.  We celebrated with more free food and free booze (doncha just love all-inclusive?).  Wayne Crowley handed out draw prizes to Team Puntarena.  Scott Pearce received an award for batting 1.000 in all three games.  Wow!!  Ken Vezina received Team Canada=s MVP award for his offence, pitching, and great team spirit.  We rode Kenny pretty hard all week (Asqueal@) and he took it all with a smile on his face!  Lisa McGregor also received an award for trying to keep the Highlanders in line and for keeping the stats.    Wayne was recognized for his work to get the wheels in motion for this tournament.  He has been there to answer all of our questions (okay, okay my questions), for the past few months and I=m sure none of us know how much time he spent trying to work out the details involved in taking a team to Cuba to play slo-pitch.  Wayne brought his laptop to Cuba and we were able to watch a slide show with the approx. 700 pictures Wayne and Art took on a digital camera.  Thanks again Wayne!! Team Canada kept the disco hopping Friday night.  While we enjoyed Limp Bizkit tremendously, I don=t think anyone else knew what to make of it (I=m sorry, you=ve got a limp what, Kenny?).

 

Saturday morning came too quickly.  It is amazing how close you can get to a bunch of people in just a week.  I know those Cuban ball players who work at the resort are going to really miss us.  Can you imagine how quiet it was there this week without Team Canada?  I=m sure they can=t wait to see you guys again, I know I can=t.  It was great to go to Cuba and win BUT it was even greater to go to Cuba and meet such super people, both Cubans and Canadians.

 Team Canada HUURRAAYY!!

Til next time,

Logistics

 

Cuba Injury Report

Ken Vezina -broken toe in a pool side happening

Brian Colpa-sprained ankle in a ping pong incident

Brian Colpa -contusion suffered in a water polo adventure

Lisa McGregor-double contusions suffered in a water polo ordeal (Thong guy sucks!!)

Bob Widman-major road rash in a scooter episode