The Huskies strike first! Rouen wins this opening game, a victory that, overall, perfectly matches the predictions. The numbers spoke for themselves: home advantage for the Normans, while Montpellier arrived with the journey in their legs.
Coach Becquey didn’t flinch: he put the ball back in the hands of his ace JFL, Thibault Mercadier. And the pitcher responded, signing a masterpiece of nine full innings, over 130 pitches, and only two small breaches conceded. Six strikeouts on the counter and an implacable serenity, well supported by the devastating hits of his teammates.
Opposite, the Barracudas only found one flaw, in the fifth inning. Tim Smith didn’t find the solution, even after changing pitchers twice, to silence the Norman bats. Vera, Ozanich, and Quinonez took turns on the mound for Montpellier, but each ended up suffering the attacks of the opposing bats. Too little, too late: the Rouen defense chained double plays, stifling the southern attack. Final score: 5 to 2.
And yet, the gap remains narrow. Thirteen hits for five points on the Huskies’ side, seven hits for two points on the Barracudas’ side… the difference is slim, almost fragile. At this rate, everything can change from one game to another. Looking closely, two men have carried all of Rouen’s attack and defense: Logan Flood with 5/5 and 4 RBIs, and on the mound Thibault Mercadier.
What’s next?
A second round that promises to be scorching. Montpellier will have recharged its batteries after a calmer night and will have to line up six innings of JFL pitchers. Suffice it to say that the anger will be there to equalize before returning to their territory next week. But Rouen, carried by its pack and its public, has no intention of letting go. Note that on the Rouen side, a pitcher, Kenny Esposito, will be missing, having returned to the USA.
We can already feel it: this duel will be written on a thread. The final is set to be a real marathon, and the second weekend of three matches promises to delight us.
