The pool stages are in full swing. Each team has played two games and already some favorites are emerging (Holland and Italy). France started against one of these favorites, Italy. The latter is equipped with human, financial and technical resources that give them a sense of security in the competition.
France, more timid, began the competition by taking a hit by pitch followed by a home run in the first inning. Three runs in quick succession dampened their spirits, and it’s fair to say such a start immediately puts you in the thick of it. This was followed by a rebalancing act, but the Italians hit and pitched better. Four French pitchers (Mercadier, Blanc Jouvan, Esposito and Laot) took turns without truly being able to silence the Italian bats.
The French squad is solid, made up of genuine prospects battling it out in France’s Division 1 or in college/university in the USA. Mathias Lacombe will be missed, but the White Sox had other ideas.
The second game against Germany didn’t start the same way. An excellent Mathis Nayral, backed by an equally effective catcher in Miguel Lopez, contained the German offense. He lost confidence facing a very powerful hitter who launched a home run and was replaced by Quentin Moulin. Defenses were calm inning after inning, but above all, the hits started to come, allowing them to collectively pile up the runs against a team that only woke up thanks to a few standout hitters who blasted the ball out of the park.
Germany won against Belgium yesterday, as did Italy, who even crushed them, which bodes well for the French who are capable of securing their second victory this afternoon against the same Belgians. The coaches, Perez and Priest, must keep rotating their squad, maintain the team spirit that creates a winning dynamic, and perhaps give more intentional walks to the big hitters revealed (e.g., Nando Mostaert for Belgium). We have confidence in them.
Let’s share some player testimonials with you:
Kenny Esposito: It was a complicated first tournament game against the Italians. But we showed our character and our true level of play against Germany. I think we really have a solid team with the potential to achieve great things. Now we just have to prove it.
Nicolas Antoine: Rather calm after the defeat against Italy as there were many contacts, few strikeouts, few defensive errors. We just lacked some attacking pitches in the zone, which we had today and led to victory. No game is taken lightly, but the team feels ready to face any team without feeling disadvantaged against anyone.
Miguel Lopez: What I felt after yesterday’s game is that we hadn’t yet shown our full potential. We know what we have, we know who we are and what we can give. We went to think calmly and adjust what we needed to, and we got the desired results in this game against Germany.
Photo credit: Christine Johannssen
