Rouen wins Title through dominant Games 4 and 5

For the fifth time in team history the ROUEN HUSKIES won the French Baseball Title on Sunday. Alike 2007 they had to go the distance to hold the TEMPLIERS SENART down. However the reaction to the Saturday loss and a 1-2-deficit in the best-of-five series was impressive. In games four and five they scored a combined 21 runs to secure the decisive victories.

Game Three: (1-2) Rouen Huskies – Templiers Senart 3-5

SEN 010 011 020  5 9 0
ROU 102 000 000  3 5 0

The second part of the French championship series started perfect for the TEMPLIERS. They overcame a 1-3 disadvantage and won 5-3 in game three to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series. SENART cut the deficit to a run in the fifth, when Gaspard Fessy (2-4, 2 RBI) opened the frame with a solo shot over the left field fence. One inning later they tied the contest on a sac fly by Ian Young.

The TEMPLIERS finally decided the outcome in the top of the eighth, when Lahence Benhamida (3-4, 2 Runs) led off with an infield single, advanced to second on a sac bunt and scored on David Meurant’s RBI single into left field. They added an insurance run on a RBI groundout by Fessy moments later.

ROUEN had taken a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the third through a RBI double by Boris Marche and a RBI single by Romain David (2 RBI). Ernesto Martinez homered for SENART in the top of the second. Samuel Meurant (W 2-0) allowed five hits, three runs and two walks in a complete game victory. He struck out six and retired the last 14 batters of the game. Keino Perez (L 0-2) took the loss, after 7 1/3 innings, conceding eight hits, five runs and two base on balls.

Game Four: (2-2) Rouen Huskies – Templiers Senart 12-2 (8)

SEN 000 110 00   2  4 3
ROU 012 041 22  12 12 0

After losing the match number three on Saturday, ROUEN came back one day later and evened the series with a lopsided 12-2 victory in eight innings. They scored three times in the first three innings to take a 3-0 lead, which was cut to a run by SENART till the middle of the fifth, when the HUSKIES broke the score wide open with a four-run period. They added five more runs till the end through mercy rule.

Kenji Hagiwara went three for five with four runs scored and a RBI. Boris Marche (2-2, 3 BB) reached base five times, scored three runs and driving in two. Randy Perez and David Gauthier each also had two RBIs on their side. David Meurant scored both runs for the TEMPLIERS.

Nicolas Dubaut picked up the win for eight solid innings. He gave up four hits, two runs and two bb, while striking out four. Evan Blesoff took his second loss in the finals, being charged with seven hits, eight runs (6 ER) and a whopping eight walks in six innings.

Game Five: (3-2) Rouen Huskies – Templiers Senart 9-2

SEN 000 000 101  2  6 3
ROU 302 201 10X  9 16 1

In the decisive fifth match of the finals, ROUEN didn’t waste any time to make a statement regarding the championship trophy. Boris Marche and Romain David drove in three runs in the bottom of the first through singles to put the HUSKIES up 3-0. They added two runs each in the third and fourth period to decide the outcome early en route to a 9-2 win.

Luc Piquet had three hits, including a double and two triples, in four at bats. He and Joris Bert each scored twice. Randy Perez homered leading off the seventh inning. Dany Scalabrini had three hits and two RBIs. David Gauthier also drove in two. Lahence Benhamida later scored both SENART runs on RBIs by David Meurant and Ernesto Martinez.

Alexandre Sochon (W 1-0) got the start for ROUEN. He allowed just one run on five hits and five walks in eight innings. He struck out two. 2007 finals MVP Mathieu Brelle-Andrade never found his rhythm and gave up 13 hits, eight runs and a bb in 5 1/3 innings.

Finals Awards

Best Batter: Boris Marche (ROU) .632, 9 RBIs.
Best Pitcher: Nicolas Dubaut (ROU) 2-0, ERA 2.25, 16 IP, 5 SO.
MVP: Luc Piquet (ROU)

Results

Templiers Senart – Rouen Huskies 5-2
Templiers Senart – Rouen Huskies 4-7
Recaps First Weekend
Rouen Huskies – Templiers Senart 3-5
Rouen Huskies – Templiers Senart 12-2 (8)
Rouen Huskies – Templiers Senart 9-2
(Rouen wins series 3-2)