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Cuban baseball team in Nova Scotia for goodwill tour

Cuba's famed national baseball team is on a goodwill tour through Canada, and has stopped in Nova Scotia for a few games and some culture swapping.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Cuban team of 15 and 16-year-olds visited Peggys Cove as part of the East Coast portion of their Canada-Cuba tour that's been four years in the making.

"We've had 12 teams over the last two years go to Matanzas and Holguin, Cuba," said tour organizer Dennis Woodworth.

"This is a very special moment for 23 individuals that live there because now we've brought them here to Atlantic Canada to show them our culture and our way of living."

Over the years, Nova Scotian teams have delivered lots of equipment and other supplies to their Cuban counterparts. Today, they were able to bond over their mutual love of baseball over a few games.

"Everyone is so happy they're here," said Yosel Vazquez, the team's translator and coordinator.

"We're meeting families that have been incredibly nice to us, very humble and hospitable, so we feel great here."

The goodwill tour has also picked up some help from some former professional players, including two-time World Series winner Devon White.

For the tour, White is an acting ambassador and coach, along with former Montreal Expo pitcher Bill Lee.

"I've been down to Cuba and I've seen how underprivileged they are," said White.

"I've also seen some amazing things with the kids that play there. We've taken equipment down and now they have the opportunity to come up and basically enjoy what we have enjoyed all our lives."

The Cuban team will play their first game of the goodwill tour on Tuesday night in Kentville. After taking part in some Canada Day festivities, they'll be in Bridgewater for another game.