French Elite League Finals, Game 3, Saturday & Sunday, October 23&24:
(2-1) Rouen Huskies – Savigny Lions 7-8 (12)
SAV 300 002 110 001 8 8 0 ROU 003 040 000 000 7 11 2 Win: Lemestre, P.; Loss: Hornostaj, A.
It was probably one of the longer games in French Baseball history. After lack of light led to the suspension of the match on Saturday evening with the score tied 7-7 after ten innings, Savigny avoided the sweep in the French Finals with an 8-7 victory after twelve innings. A solo homerun by Tim Stewart in the top of the third extra inning decided the contest, when play resumed on Sunday morning.
The Lions had the better start into game three of the best-of-five series and took an early 3-0 lead. But the Huskies came back with three runs in the third and four in the fifth to get up 7-3. But Savigny didn’t go down without a fight and tied the game in the eighth on a RBI single by Jerome Dussart. Dussart also had kept Rouen scoreless in four innings of one-hit relief.
Vincent Ferreira drove in three for Savigny. Anthony Piquet had three RBI for the Huskies, Joris Bert four hits. Keino Perez (ROU) started and allowed four hits, six runs (3 ER) and six bb in seven innings. He was opposed by Kyle Nash (SAV), who issued four hits, three runs and four walks in three innings. Pierrick Lemestre got the win after pitching three innings in relief, escaping a bases loaded situation in the bottom of the twelve. Aaron Hornostaj took the loss.
French Elite League Finals, Game 4, Sunday, October 24:
(3-1) Rouen Huskies – Savigny Lions 5-1
SAV 010 000 000 1 4 1 ROU 101 020 01X 5 8 1 Win: Piquet, A.; Loss: Lemestre, P.
Game four of the French Finals followed immediately of the completion of game three. Rouen prevailed 5-1, celebrating the 3-1 win in the series and their seventh championship. It is their sixth straight title in French Baseball.
Boris Marche was hit by a pitch in the third inning with the bases loaded to break an early 1-1 tie and to put the Huskies back in front. An error and a RBI single by David Gauthier made it 4-1 in the fifth before a RBI single by Luc Piquet (3-4) sealed the victory in the eighth. Aaron Hornostaj (ROU) and Fabien Proust (SAV) had exchanged RBI doubles earlier in the game. Joris Bert went 3-for-4 with two runs.
Anthony Piquet (W 2-0) got its second win of the series, allowing just one run on four hits and two walks in nine innings. Pierrick Lemestre (L 1-2) took the mound in game four again after pitching three innings in game three. He lasted just 4 1/3 innings, surrendering six hits, four runs (3 ER) and three bb. Guillaume Coste closed it out in relief.
Afterwards Joris Bert was named MVP of the French Finals. The former Los Angeles Dodgers prospect went 9-for-15 in the four games. Anthony Piquet got the best pitcher trophy for two wins and an ERA of 3.37. Aaron Hornostaj received the award for the best batter.
Results French Finals Games 1&2:
Saturday, October 16:
Savigny Lions – Rouen Huskies 4-16 (7)
Sunday, October 17:
Savigny Lions – Rouen Huskies 5-10
Recaps Games 1&2