Barracudas de Montpellier
2021
2021
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After finishing third in the 2019 campaign, the 2020 version of the Barracudas hoped to reach the French Series however they, along with all the other clubs in France were forced to wait, as the 2020 season was cancelled due to Covid\-19\.

The club has made some significant additions to the roster. In late 2019, Montpellier announced the signing of pitcher Owen Ozanich. In early 2021, the Barracudas signed Cuban workhorse Erly Casanova. 

Canelon (7\-3, 1\.75 ERA), Cuban righty Erly Casanova (7\-1, 2\.25 ERA) and Ozanich (4\-2, 0\.86 ERA) anchored the rotation.

Two Americans, Patrick Cromwell (.280/.430/.404\) and Andy Cosgrove (.266/.406/.405\) joined the club, Cromwell played infield at Clemson University while Cosgrove arrived after stints at NC State and in the minor leagues (Twins organization).

Nine Barracudas returned from US college seasons. Fabien Kovacs, Mael Zan, Julien Monks, Luc Polit, Nolan Soliveres, Nicolas Khoury, Ismail Pontiac, Fred Walter and Paolo Brossier all played in the states in early 2021 and came back in the south of France to solidify manager Jean Michel Mayeur's team.

The Barracudas finished the regular season 17\-3, second in their pool behind Senart.

In September 2021 Montpellier went 4\-0 in the annual Challenge de France, taking home the club's first title since 2006\. Montpellier's pitching staff led the tournament in ERA and strikeouts. Mathis Nayral, Owen Ozanich, Erly Casanova and Kevin Canelon each won a game. Canelon took home tournament MVP honors. Paolo Brossier, Ariel Soriano and Clement Le Pichon homered in a 15\-1 win over Rouen in the final. The Barracudas earned a spot in the 2022 CEB European Cup.

The defending French champions, Rouen Huskies, knocked the 2021 Barracudas out of the playoffs in the semi\-finals; taking the best\-of\-five series three games to one.


How does a team's pitching staff lead to tournament MVP honors?