Naranjas de Villa Clara
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Villa Clara is a baseball team in the Cuban National Series. Based in Santa Clara, the Naranjas (Orange) or Azucareros (Sugar-makers) have been one of the league's most successful squads over the last 30 years, winning championships in 1983, as well as three-year run from 1993 to 1995. They also lost the 1996, 2003, 2004 and 2010 finals to Industriales. Orange, white and black are their colors; although they have three different colors, the orange is what represents them, though teams like Sancti Spíritus Gallos also have orange uniforms. Four Villa Clara players (Ariel Borrero, Luis Borroto, Eduardo Paret and Ariel Pestano) were on Cuba's roster at the 2006 World Baseball Classic.
Four Villa Clara players (Eduardo Paret, Ariel Pestano, Leonys Martín and Yolexis Ulacia) were on Cuba's roster at the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
History
Villa Clara was known as the Azucareros (sugar-makers) at that time there were Provincias of Ciego de Avila, Cienfuegos, Sancti Spíritus and Villa Clara all as one single team. The name Azucareros (sugar-makers) was to represent the workers of all Sugar Mills of Cuba. Under the name Azucareros (Sugar-makers) won three championships (1969) (1971) (1972). After the separation of the teams Villa Clara became (Las naranjas mecánica) or (Las naranjas explosivas) which are other nicknames (but not official), with the new change Villa Clara won the series in (1983) led by Eduardo Martín Saura and three consecutive years(1993) (1994) (1995) led by Pedro Jova. On June 18, 2013, Villa Clara defeated Matanzas 7-4, clinching their first league championship since 1994-1995.[1]
Cuban National Series MVPs
- Modesto Verdura P Azucareros
- Antonio Muñoz 1B Azucareros
- Isidro Pérez P Azucareros
- Amado Zamora RF Villa Clara
- Oscar Machado LF Villa Clara
Other notable players
- Aquino Abreu (pitcher)
- Aledmis Díaz
- Jorge Díaz
- Pedro Jova (shortstop)
- Angel López
- Víctor Mesa (outfield)
- Alberto Martínez (catcher)
- Silvio Montejo (outfield)
- Eliecer Montes de Oca (pitcher)
- Eduardo Paret (shortstop)
- Lázaro Pérez (catcher)
- Ariel Pestano (catcher)
- José Ramón Riscart
- José Riveira
- Eddy Rojas (outfield)
- Reinaldo Santana
- Jorge Toca
- Rolando Arrojo
- Ariel Borrero (first baseman)
- Luis Borroto (pitcher)
- Andy Zamora
- Leonys Martin
- Luis Jova
Emigrants
Several Villa Clara players have left Cuba to try to play in the Major Leagues.
- won Serie de nacional Championships in 1969, 1971,1972.