The Challenge de France started on Thursday with the first set of games. Defending champion Rouen Huskies beat the St. Just St. Rambert Ducks 13-2.

Mark Andre Habeck pitched five scoreless innings for the win. Kenji Hagiwara added a triple and three RBI. The Montpellier Barracudas opened the league cup tournament with a 11-6 win over the Savigny Lions. A six-run fourth decided the outcome early, although the Lions didn’t go down without a fight.

The other games ended with surprise winners. Clermont-Ferrand Arvernes defeated Paris UC 6-4. Clermont scored early and led 3-0 after two frames en route to the victory. The Montigny Cougars, co-hosting the Challenge de France with Rouen, stunned the Templiers Senart 4-1. Tomas Cabaniel laid the groundwork with a seven-inning, ten-strikeout performance. Alexandre Couton and Maxence Esteban picked up three RBI each.

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