A historic first for Montigny in the Challenge of France 2023. After a shaky start, they battled back, forcing extra innings in the semifinals against Sénart. After a 4-4 deadlock, they snatched victory in the extra inning. It was a baseball celebration, with numerous officials present, and the competition lived up to its promises thanks to the Templiers de Sénart’s organization.
Yorfranck Lopez started on the mound, keeping the Rouen pack at bay for six innings. The Cougars led 4-0, then 5-0, before settling at 4-0. Then came Bastien Dagneau, the go-to guy in other games. He smacked a triple, rallying his teammates. The momentum shifted, and the energy turned. Rouen tied it up. Extra innings followed. By the 11th inning—with the match originally scheduled for seven—Lopez was still standing, like his teammate (Mastre), surpassing 150 pitches.
Everyone’s nerves were tested—the players, coaches, spectators, TV viewers, and even A Coup Sur commentator Guillaume, who endured the tension as best he could. There were standout plays, like Martin Vissac’s diving catch in center field. Then came the first injuries: Javier Hernandez exited, removing the designated hitter and forcing Gleeson to catch. Meanwhile, Montigny’s pitcher, with over 170 pitches under his belt, kept holding his own in the lineup! Rouen’s pitching carousel continued (Moulin, Lacroix, Prioul, McKinonn). Then Mayeux cramped up for Montigny. Everyone was exhausted, running slower. The stands thinned. Then came a spectacular double play by the Huskies’ catcher on a stolen base attempt.
The six-man umpiring crew was a lifesaver, and they too felt the fatigue (Stéphane Girault behind the plate). Boris Marche learned his lesson, calmly discussing calls to avoid ejection. In the 12th inning, everyone waited for the hit, the home run, or the error to end this marathon. But the defenses shone, especially with Levigneron’s relay for Montigny, eliminating Brainville in a triple play. Four hours of play! How to explain to outsiders that baseball isn’t endless? This is when you appreciate the tie-breaker rule, but alas, it’s not in the Challenge regulations. McKinonn, Rouen’s pitcher, loaded the bases after a hit-by-pitch. On the next at-bat, Guillaume Raphet’s hit drove in a run. Pitching change: Arthur Magnien, a rookie, stepped in. It’s tough at this level to face a Challenge final debut. Despite cramps, Fagnonni, the Cougars’ batting leader, drove in two more runs. Lopez, the pitcher, added another run with a hit, making it 8-4 for the Cougars. Two walks later, the score climbed to 9-4. Another pitching change. Rouen’s bullpen was empty. Then came Jérémy Dubois, the Huskies’ sixth pitcher. Lopez returned with 190 pitches thrown! He was the mastermind of this victory over Rouen and earned MVP Pitcher. Montigny secured their spot in the European Cup. We’ll revisit their incredible journey through interviews with the Cougars of Montigny.
