What a club! For over 15 years, this club has dominated French baseball. Yesterday, the U18 team won the Open de France, and the D1 team clinched the French Division 1 championship.
It wasn’t smooth sailing for Normandy’s powerhouse. They started the year with losses, took a beating in the European championship. Of course, the health crisis disrupted player arrivals. But throughout their round-robin, they clawed their way back, finishing top of their group.
The Challenge de France stage also hurt. Like a premonition, the Huskies beat Sénart but suffered a heavy defeat in the final against Montpellier. The playoffs allowed them to exact revenge on Montpellier. The five-game final revealed key insights: you only win with at least three strong pitchers. Rouen had the luxury of one foreigner (Camacho) and two Frenchmen (Prioul and Moulin). Then came the French national team stage, where Rouen’s coach—who was wrapping up his final season at the club—faced a storm of defeats. One might have thought Keino Perez was affected by all these difficulties. He saved the season by winning the French championship. Amid the adversity of the French double-visit rule, he took the mound to lead his team. He’s leaving the club to become a salaried employee of the FFBS in Toulouse. Let’s salute his journey at Rouen and all he brought to the club’s many victories.
This five-game final showcased all of French baseball. Ultra-dominant foreign pitchers exhausted French batters. Strict rules, powerfully enforced by officials, demanded respect and deep knowledge from coaches and players. Moments of player frustration due to long waits and accumulated fatigue, but coaches and officials maintained control. Clearly, in this game of teamwork and spirit, Rouen showed resilience and unwavering belief in their chances.
A word on Sénart’s Templars, who after a stellar season collapsed in the Challenge de France and the French championship final. A year of dominance but no victory. They must learn from this. Perhaps they relied too much on their foreign pitchers. Sam Beslile was out of this world in the final, pitching nearly 15 innings. And perhaps on the mental side, the collective needed deeper human connections in the face of adversity or opportunities.
In conclusion, Rouen, always Rouen. But the departure of the iconic coach after 15 French championship titles, the strength of other clubs (Montpellier and Sénart) suggests 2022 could be a year of change. But… nothing is written in sports.
