The French Division I got underway last weekend with the first set of doubleheaders. The home teams completed a clean sweep.
Defending champion Rouen Huskies defeated the Arvernes Clermont 6-1 and 7-0 behind strong pitching from Owen Ozanich, Pablo Ossandon, Yoann Vaugelade and Esteban Prioul. They combined to allow just one run on nine hits through 18 innings. Ossandon also added two runs on offense in game one. Maxime Lefevre went 3-for-3 with two RBI in game two.
Special interest was on the twin bill between the Montpellier Barracudas and the French Cubs from Chartres. Chartres had heavily revamped its roster throughout the offseason, but had to settle for 4-7 and 1-12 losses. Additionally Melissa Mayeux debuted for Montpellier in the French Division I, becoming the first female player to play in France’s top league in Baseball. She started both games at second base, going 2-for-5 with a walk, a run and a RBI.
The Templiers Senart also celebrated a two-win weekend. They defeated the Savigny Lions 11-3 and 7-0. In game one Senart scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth to break a 3-3 tie en route to a convincing win. Jacques Boucheron went 4-for-5 with three runs and two RBI. In game two Jimmy Jensen pitched a one-hit complete game shutout to pace the Templiers in his French Division I debut. He struck out 12. Savigny had two base runners in the game. They lone hit came in the seventh through a one-out single.
In the fourth matchup Stade Toulousain beat Paris UC 14-8 and 10-0. Former Major Leaguer Harvey Garcia lasted just 1 1/3 innings in game one for Toulouse, but his offense bailed him out in a slugfest. Four runs in the second and five in the seventh helped Stade to decide the outcome. Jean Scavo Diaz drove in four runs. James Murrey went deep for PUC, but also took the loss in game one. In game two Samuel Meurant and Sebastien Neumann combined for a four-hit shutout.
Results:
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1ère journée – 27/03
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| Rouen Huskies – | Clermont | 6 – 1 |
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7 – 0 |
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| Montpellier Barracudas – | Chartres French Cubs | 7 – 4 |
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12 – 1 |
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| Senart Templiers – | Savigny-sur-Orge Lions | 11 – 3 |
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7 – 0 |
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| Stade Toulousain – | PUC | 14 – 8 |
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10 – 0 |
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