A Cuban national team and the Can-Am League Rockland Boulders were mixed up in quite a finish the other night. The Cuban team is on a tour with several Can-Am League teams which they have done since 2016. Last year Cuba went 11-9 on its tour. But this year the most memorable thing will be the game with Rockland a few nights ago when its entire coaching staff got tossed.
It all started in the top of the 9th inning with Cuba trailing 6-5. There was 1 out and a runner on first. Victor Mesa hit a grounder to Rockland shortstop Mike Fransoso who flipped the ball to second baseman Dylan Tice. Yoeklis Cespedes running from first appeared to have beaten the throw, but he did not slide and bumped into Tice as he was trying to field and throw. Cespedes was called safe and Rockland manager Jamie Keefe quickly came out to argue interference.
All Hell Breaks Loose
After a brief meeting between the umpires, Cespedes was called out for interference. That’s when the chaos began. Cuba manager Roger Machado argued the call as well as coach Victor Mesa Sr. And before you know it there was dirt kicking, chest bumping, and the entire Cuba coaching staff being ejected from the game. Eventually you can see the umpires being chased into right field by the Cuban staff, and the umpires had to seek refuge leaving the field through the stands.
The game would end after 8.2 innings with a 6-5 Rockland win. Cuba began its tour in early June finishing it off with a series against Rockland which the Boulders won 2-games-to-1. It remains to be seen if the series will continue next season after the incident. Cuba was joined on tour by an independent minor league team from South Korea, the Yeoncheon Miracle.
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