Stade Toulousain – Rouen Huskies 1-13 (7), 3-5
ROUEN defended first place in the French Elite League with two wins in TOULOUSE. In game one they put runs on the board in four of the first five frames en route to a 13-1 win in seven innings. Robin Roy pitched seven innings for the win, allowing just one run on four hits and two walks. Joris Navarro took the loss after three-plus innings, nine hits, nine runs and five bb. The second game was much closer, as needed three runs in the seventh to pull away in a 5-3 victory. Keino Perez went the distance, giving up four hits, three runs (1 ER) and a walk. Edison Garcia Martinez started for STADE and conceded seven hits, three runs (2 ER) and three bb in six-plus innings for the loss.
La Guerche Hawks – Montigny Cougars 9-8, 2-8
LA GUERCHE and MONTIGNY settled for a split in their doubleheader in France last weekend. In the first part of the twin bill, the COUGARS had the better start, taking a 5-0 lead after two frames. But the HAWKS used a six-run rally in the fourth to come back. MONTIGNY came right back and tied in the fifth, but was back trailing moments later, when LA GUERCHE added two more runs in the bottom of the period. The COUGARS once again were able to answer and tied the contest in the top of the eighth. In the ninth Jean-Pascual Furet scored the decisive run on a walk off RBI double by Gaetan Le Poupon. Virgile Roux reached base five times for the HAWKS and drove in two. Sebastien Vezina picked up the win with 1 2/3 innings of relief. Sebastien Duchossoy and Derek Malikian each had three hits for MONTIGNY.
In the second match the COUGARS took the lead with three runs in the top of the third, added four runs in the seventh and prevailed 8-2 in the end. Malikian scored a run and drove in two. Benjamin Schmitthausler went two-for-four with two RBI. Jean Baptiste Couton walked ten in a complete game win, but also allowed just two runs (1 ER) on five hits. Vezina conceded six hits, seven runs (4 ER) and three bb in seven innings for the loss.
Templiers Senart – Montpellier Barracudas 3-12, 2-9
Dennis Kelly went six-for-ten on the day to lead MONTPELLIER to two lopsided wins against SENART, remaining in second place in the Elite League standings. Matthew Blackmore and Laurent Andrades combined to hold the TEMPLIERS offense in check in game one, a 12-3 pounding. In the second match Andrades relieved Thomas Meley, who went seven innings in a 9-2 victory.
Savigny Lions – Arvernes Clermont-Ferrand 4-5, 12-3
SAVIGNY and CLERMONT-FERRAND settled for the split in their two-game series last weekend in the French Elite League. In game one the ARVERNES overcame an early 0-3 deficit and later held on to a 5-4 lead for the win. Michael and James Mondesir pitched for CLERMONT-FERRAND. Carlos Jiminian pitched for the LIONS. In the second match the offense of SAVIGNY took over, pounded out 17 hits to lead their team to a 12-3 victory.
{mrb-standing:france-2009}
Photo: © Jean-Pascal Furet, www.baseballpics.free.fr