The Escogido Lions swept the regular series of the Dominican Winter Baseball League, winning 34 games and only losing 14 for a .708 average, a new record for a season of 48 games. The Escogido and its arch rival from Santo Domingo, the Licey Tigers are the favorites to win the semifinals that began on 2 January in Santo Domingo and Santiago.
The Aguilas from Santiago and the Estrellas from San Pedro de Macorís are the two other contenders. Last year’s champions, the Azucareros, were disqualified.
The most outstanding players during the tournament were Domingo Cedeño, Mario Brito and Sherman Obando.
Eighteen games will be played in the 21 days of the round-robin, all-against-all semi-finals. For this round, each team has received an injection of Major League players. For example, the Escogido Lions roster now includes Samuel Sosa, Jose Vizcaino, Nelson Liriano, Gerónimo Berroa, Melquiades Rojas and Raúl Mondesí
The Licey Tigers Major League players are brothers Carlos and Mélido Pérez, Pedro and Ramón Martínez, Juan Guzmán, Tony Fernandez, Mariano Duncan, and Juan Bell.
The Aguilas are not giving in. They expect to be joined by Moisés Alou who will team up with Panamanian Sherman Obando. The catcher for the Aguilas will be none other than veteran Tony Peña. Also in this team are Quilvio Veras, Luis Polonia y Félix Fermín, Julián Tavárez, Hipólito Pichardo and Apolinar García.
The Estrellas Orientales of San Pedro de Macorís show the weakest roster, but Julio César Franco is most likely to star in any game they play.
12-18 January 1996