Photo above: Lions vs. Huskies, a long-standing rivalry.
Group A
Like lions in a cage.
Savigny-sur-Orge (9-3), decisively beaten by the Huskies (8-4) in the Challenge de France final on May 29 (11-2), has taken the provisional lead in Group A and two matches in Normandy, this June 19. Is the statistical axis around which the French « Elite » baseball world revolves about to shift? The formidable Huskies are practically unbeatable at home… They haven’t lost a full matchday at ‘Pierre Rolland’ in the regular season since May 27, 2018 (against Montpellier). So, has the cork popped under pressure and reignited the party? Or are we simply witnessing a temporary blip?
Above: Acuna again. He batted, pitched…
In the first game, (8 hits and a double for Rouen – 12 hits for Savigny and 3 doubles), it was in the second inning that everything kicked off. The Lions capitalized on Rouen’s sloppiness with two outs. Moulin (3-2) gave up 3 walks and two singles to Ruiz and Gonzales. Three runs for Savigny. Two runs for the Huskies in the same inning thanks to a double by Hernandez and the defensive struggles the Lions had. Rouen scored again three times in the third but wouldn’t score anymore. The Lions added 4 runs, including three in the fifth. Victory 7-5. Paredes (3-0) takes his third win.
At this point in the day, everyone thought Rouen couldn’t lose twice. The following match indeed saw the home team take the lead until the third inning. But two pushes in the fifth and eighth by the « visiting visitors » (Savigny playing home team) sealed the day. 7 hits by Rouen (double by Dagneau) against 10 by Savigny (double by Acuna). Acuna victorious, who took the mound for 6 innings in relief (2 BB, 2 K, 0 ER). Coste started and had a scare with 3 IP, 0 K, 2 BB, 3 earned runs. Lions win 4-7.
Above: Blondel’s determination, the Huskies’ first baseman, who are far from done.
The Lions sent a strong message. But the Huskies, who boast the best provisional batting average in the league (.336), recently crowned B European champions, multiple French champions, are never more formidable than when riled up.
Meanwhile, in the Yvelines, the Cougars (10-4) also had a reputation to uphold. That of serious contenders for the top spots. Hosting the PUC (0-12) wasn’t the toughest mission for the Ignymontains. And it all went smoothly at the start of the day with Mastre on the mound, polishing his « stats » and taking his fifth win 10-0 (13 K, 2 BB in 7 IP, no earned runs… « siguiente »). On the offensive side, the home team reminded the Parisians why they weren’t invited to the CDF: 13 hits (2 doubles, 1 triple by Do Carmo and a home run by Mayeux). The five Parisian hits, including a double by first baseman Sulinsky, didn’t change a thing… That morning, the Cougars batted .419… Next up. The PUC picked itself up and took advantage of the local pitching’s relative lack of depth in the next 9 innings. This time, the Violets faced the big cats with more confidence. Six hits, including a triple by shortstop Carela, resulting in an earned run. But on the other side, the Cougars are at home and put the ball in play 11 times against Lacot, Lequeux, and Yasuda in succession. Rault (2-2) takes his second win in 7 IP, 4 H, 9 K, 3 BB, and 3 ER. The save goes to Desrumeaux.
Above: The Cougars too strong for the PUC (photo CFD).
Group B
Toulouse (2-8?) forfeited, who were supposed to travel to La Rochelle’s Boucan’s Field (9-3?). Means, organization… Or canicule on the Rochelaise coast? The matches will ultimately be played next Sunday. The heatwave was considered the cause of the postponement.
While nothing was happening in Charente-Maritime, another battle was raging on the field of Veyrassi further south. The Barracudas, second in the group (9-3), who reached the last four of the Confederation Cup, hosted the Nice Cavigal (0-14), last in the group. Teramura (0-5), was unsurprisingly the starting pitcher with Montas behind the plate. A sharp and powerful battery that couldn’t do much against the Barracudas, who line up the second-best attack in D1 (.287). But there was more frustration in store for Nice in the first match. Indeed, the Cavigal produced 12 hits (1 triple by Bamberger) to 10 for Montpellier (double by Anderson and Kovacs). Sixth win for « K-Nelon » (6 IP, 6 K, 1 BB, 6 H).
Above: Naoki Teramura, the Nice player in the Czech Republic!
The second game saw Nice lose 18-3. 6 hits to 10 (2 doubles by Brossier Kovacs), 2 BB to 12! Young Nayral (2-1) controlled the ball and took his win 5 IP, 5 K, 2 BB. Notable was the duel between catchers, Montas cutting Doat (c) on a stolen base and 1 SB for Soriano Y.
See you then, next Sunday for a double confrontation against Toulouse live from Boucan’s Field!
D2 postponed.
Vincent Picard
