The men’s Super CUP softball tournament kicks off on August 22nd. 13 club teams, including two national sides (Germany and the Czech Republic), will face off in four pools.
France is represented by Montpellier’s Barracudas.
Anthony Cros, the coach of this team, talks to us about this competition
How is your team this year?
We’ve got a great team this year. We’ve been strengthened by a few players, including some top talent coming in to support us, such as a very good Argentine pitcher and two New Zealanders, notably the best hitter from the 2019 Cup (Eru Drage).
What does this competition mean to you?
This is our 5th European Cup with Montpellier. We’ve won two bronze medals in the ESF Cup (the Europa League equivalent) and finished 7th in the Supercup (the Champions League equivalent). This year, we could secure a better position if we manage to beat the reigning two-time European champions, the Hurricanes, or the Locos from Breklav, currently topping the Czech league. It’s going to be a tricky round-robin, but we’ll give it our all!
Montpellier’s team
What are the keys to success?
Strong defense and putting the ball in play at bat against some of the world’s best pitchers! It’s like every team is bringing a Verlander or a deGrom to the tournament. Expect low-scoring games where every play counts. There will be some top-notch pitchers throwing speeds over 130 km/h. At 14 meters from home plate and with a ton of movement on each pitch…
Who are the favorites?
Among the favorites are the Hurricanes and the Belgian side from Braaschaat. Czech clubs are always tough to beat. It’s still wide open. I think we’re among the top 5-6 teams on paper.
Interview by Didier Cannioux
Photo credits: Glen Gervot
