Huskies in Cuba:  Part I  |  Part II  |  Part III  |  Part IV
Photo Galleries:  Baseball (Part I)  |  Volleyball (Part I)  |  Baseball (Part II)  |  Baseball (Part III)  |  Volleyball (Part III)
Sights & Sounds:  Part I  |  Part II  |  Part III  |  Part IV

PINAR DEL RIO, Cuba – Road trip? In Cuba?
 
Of course! After all, the Huskies were considered the visiting teams.
 
Waking up the morning of Dec. 21, 2016, to their earliest start of the week, the Northeastern baseball and volleyball teams both boarded the busses for the ensuing two-hour drive west from Havana to Pinar del Rio, the capital of Cuba's western-most province by the same name. There, both NU squads would be competing in parallel against the Vegueros del Pinar del Rio club; Vegueros, the club's nickname, loosely translates to plantation workers or cigar-makers - those who produce the province's leading export.
 
 
Exiting the buses around 10 a.m., the Huskies circumvented the Vegueros' 8,000-seat baseball stadium, Estadio Capitan San Luis (above), to arrive at the club's Sala Polivalente 19 de Noviembre (translated as "multipurpose room"), the stage for the morning's volleyball exhibition (below).
 
 
The arena was indeed that of a multi-purpose facility. Through the worn hardwood and faded, red-and-blue paint, one could easily outline the basketball and handball courts that laid intertwined over the bold, white volleyball lines. Behind the end line, a gigantic, floor-to-ceiling Cuban flag hung from the rafters, while the phrase "el deporte derecho del pueblo" (translated as "the right sport of the people") was printed beneath the sideline balcony, between a much smaller Cuban flag and a portrait of Fidel Castro.
 
 
Following the conclusion of warm-ups and a brief coaches' meeting, the two teams prepared for the match's opening ceremony by lining up behind their respective presenting escort. The Huskies, wearing their road blacks, were led onto the court by a woman holding a sign that read USA with the American flag, while the Pinar del Rio squad, donning green, entered in a similar fashion.
 
 
Starting lineups for both teams were introduced first in Spanish and second in English. After each side had retired to its bench, both sets of starting six returned to the floor. Northeastern was awarded the ball to serve first and the match was underway.
 
 
The luxury of competing in a friendly, neither side seemed occupied with what score was reading from the flip-board located at midcourt. With the Huskies' coach, Ken Nichols, cycling in as many players as possible, Northeastern and Pinar del Rio enjoyed keeping par with the other, trading competitive rallies during a fun, four-set affair. In the end, amidst the post-match hugs and parting wishes, the Huskies came forward to donate care packages to their opponents.
 
Next door in the Estadio Capitan San Luis, the Northeastern baseball team was warming up for its mid-morning contest against the Vegueros. Behind home plate, one could read "Pinar del Rio campeon de la serie de oro" (translated as "champions of the golden series"), referring to the club's six Cuban National Series titles. Among the light poles surrounding the outfield were images of the Vegueros' all-time greats, while a massive scoreboard stood in center field, towering the bullpens.
 
Needing no translation, Northeastern occupied the first-base dugout, above which read "visitador." With first pitch looming, the Huskies' coach, Mike Glavine, took a moment to pencil in the official NU lineup.
 
 
Much like during the volleyball match, Northeastern participated in an opening ceremony before the game, in which the team was paraded out from the dugout behind its presenting escort. Once the Vegueros had assembled along the third-base line, the Cuban and American national anthems were played in sequence and the teams then exited the field for first pitch.
 
 
After the game, the Huskies participated in another jersey exchange with the Vegueros before heading into their clubhouse, where a member of the Pinar del Rio Hall of Fame gave a brief walking tour of the memorabilia on display. Sitting below the portraits of the former Pinar del Rio stars was the club's 2015 Caribbean Series championship trophy.
 
 
Departing the complex during the mid-afternoon, Northeastern made the mountainous trek to Tabaco La Rosita, a tobacco plantation located within the scenic hills of the Pinar del Rio province. In the midst of breathtaking views, the Huskies ate together at a small, one-room restaurant before embarking on a tour of the plantation. Along the way, both teams learned the methods farmers rely on to craft cigars, one of Cuba's most authentic commodities. The experience provided the Huskies with more meaning behind the nickname "Vegueros" and the pride the Pinar del Rio club takes in representing its province.