All the Beauty of a Championship Final

They all tried and failed. They all came up short against the Huskies. Some came close to pulling off an upset, set Rouen’s house on fire, but to no avail. The stronger team always prevailed in favor of the striped jerseys. There was a sense of discouragement. It was impossible to beat them—they always found a way to win, and they were unbeatable late in the season. And then there was frustration, entirely justified, at seeing the same team always lifting the trophy. Not just because in France we don’t always love the winners, but also because French baseball is being swallowed by an unstoppable dynasty, devoured by a ruthless dynasty that leaves little room for others.

Then the Lions arrived. And what, over 19 finals, had been nothing more than a utopia or a dream, now looks seriously like a reality. Savigny leads 2-0 against Rouen and is about to put the finishing touch on this incredible run by hosting the Huskies in Gellainville, the very place where they’ve won 14 of their last 17 games this season. Every 22 years, Savigny delivers a historic feat. In 2004, it was the stunning comeback against the Barracudas, who had come from Île-de-France with two wins before being swept at home in Veyrassi. In 2026, they managed to beat the Rouen giant twice on their own turf. There’s just one more win left to secure. Just one win. Yes, but the hardest one.

You can count on the Lions. They’re certainly not popping the champagne yet. They’ve climbed two-thirds of the mountain, but they know the slope is still brutally steep before they can raise their arms in victory. Because if there’s one team capable of clawing back from behind, it’s Rouen. Well, writing that now mostly refers to the past, to tradition, to those improbable victories born from a volatile mix of talent, confidence, certainty, and teamwork. Is the 2026 edition made of the same stuff as its predecessors? Will it find the depth within itself to once again impose its will on French baseball? We don’t have the answer to those questions. We’ll know on Saturday or Sunday, but until the final out, anything is still possible for those who believe.

Savigny believed in it, that’s for sure, last weekend. The Lions believed in their starting pitcher from the first game, Adrian Pena, who held strong and was flawless over 9 innings. They believed in their veteran top-of-the-lineup hitters, including the towering Ivan Acuna, but also Axel Amoros (5 for 8), who was the true offensive leader. They believed in their lefty with 13 seasons in Division 1, Gédéon Coste, who was rattled all year—shaken by Montpellier, rattled in the first inning against Rouen—but managed to keep his cool and dominate Rouen’s bats, which were on edge. They believed in their fiery closer, Evertz Orozco, who never wavered in the clutch. They believed in their unsung heroes—a Chevet who comes in to get the out and the win, a Désir who hits the go-ahead home run. They believed in themselves, and there’s no reason that won’t happen again this weekend.

The Chartres field

It’s obvious that Saturday’s game will be decisive. Because if Savigny wins, it’s over. But if Rouen manages to escape the trap Adrian Pena locked them in last Saturday, the fight could take a different turn. Doubt might seep into the Lions’ veins, for whom everything had gone perfectly until now. And, above all, hope would rekindle in Rouen’s hearts, who still wonder how they could have lost these two games, each time by the slimmest of margins. We’d wake up Sunday morning with a brand-new scenario, with Rouen needing just two more wins, and the odds would be subtly shifting in their favor.

But that’s all hypothetical. This 2026 final, for now, exists in an irrational framework. So trying to predict or understand what will unfold in Chartres is an impossible task. Impossible, like seeing Rouen fall, or like seeing Rouen win three times. For now, the final has been beautiful, with both games decided by small details and sheer talent. We can’t ask for more in the match(es) to come. Yes, of course, we’d love a fierce battle, a fifth game of fire and madness, a final where the suspense grips you down to the last out. But a baseball lover could just as easily adore seeing Savigny finish the job in style on Saturday, knock Rouen out for good, cement their place in history, and finally claim the reward for all these years of fighting just to survive. They could also want to see Rouen’s incredible winning streak continue, chasing a 20th title to avoid a sad midlife crisis. Whatever the final result, it will be beautiful, thanks to an unexpected and thrilling first weekend. For the greatest pleasure of baseball fans. After all, that’s all we ask of a final.

F. Colombier