The Rouen Huskies defeated the Hoboken Pioneers to win the 2022 Confederation Cup in a walk-off, 6-5 (box score), with the scoring run crossing the plate thanks to a bases-loaded walk. The victory secures France a place in next year’s top-level, European club competition.
The 1,000 spectators in Rouen saw a sloppy but tense championship game, with the drama beginning in the fifth inning, when Hoboken scored two runs to take a 5-2 advantage. Rouen responded in the bottom half of the frame with three runs to even the score, with two of the runs coming on a homer by Bastien Dagneau. It was the outfielder’s third long ball of the tournament.
The two pitching staffs then took control, silencing the bats until the dramatic bottom of the ninth inning.
With one out and two runners on, Hoboken intentionally walked Gabriel Harrison, who was making his first plate appearance in the tournament, to load the bases, and the next batter, Martin Visaac, put the ball into play, with the force out at home preventing Louis Brainville from scoring.
With two outs, Dylan Gleeson came to the plate and worked a full count, with the pay-off pitch landing outside of the strike zone, bringing Joris Bert home and setting off the celebrations.
Esteban Prioul, who pitched four innings of shutout relief, allowing just one hit while striking out six for the Huskies, picked up the W, while Dagneau, who slashed .471/.550/1.176 to accompany three homers and nine RBI, took home tournament MVP honors.