In the press!!

A reporter stopped by our games last weekend to interview the team and specifically the two new Americans that have joined the Compiègne Marlins. Le Courrier Picard is a fairly predominant publication in the region with a diffusion of nearly 70,000 daily. Its the regional newspaper which would be similar to a state-wide newspaper in the US. For our team, this was a pretty big deal. So for the interview itself, Andre spoke through a translator and I did my best on my own - not too bad for my first French interview...

Here's the link to the newspaper's website: http://www.courrier-picard.fr/courrier/Sports/Sport-en-Picardie/Compiegne-c-est-l-Amerique-!/

Here's the translation:

Tuesday, 28 April 2009

BASEBALL (N1) Compiègne, it's America!

Photo caption: The two American recruits of Compiègne, Andre Sternberg and James Skyrm, dominate partners and opponents in National 1 (photo R & D).

Placing first in their pre-season tournament, and agaist PUC in the upcoming home match next weekend at the Parc des Sports Mercières, the Marlins of Compiègne have been strengthened this season by bringing two Americans, Andrew Sternberg and James Skyrm, thus giving a cosmopolitan connotation to a workforce already flavored with two players of Cuban origin, Luis Gomez (coach-player) and Juan Coca. Americans on a baseball club, nothing better! "It's always a plus for the team. We have good players but it is true that without them it is a little more difficult," agrees the Compiègne vice-president, Jean-Claude Clettes.

Faced against Boé last Sunday, Andre Sternberg showed the extent of his capabilities, striking out 16 batters through 7 innings and scoring three of the ten runs in the first game. "These are some monster stats!" says Pascal Maitrot, the treasurer of the club.

Sternberg is an essential, "The weakness of the teams today is the pitcher. It is he who does about 60-70% of the team's work. But against Boé today, André has done 90% of work! "Said the coach-player of the Marlins, Luis Gomez.

It must also be mentioned that James Skyrm also scored three runs in the second game.

The performance of the Americans is valued by their teammates. "They help us a lot in the field. Where we make mistakes, they explain, calmly and simply how to fix and avoid it the next time. And it's rather nice to speak three different languages in the dugout," said the younger Giordano Makholm. Luis Gomez adds: "It's the best recruitment we've ever done!"

Sternberg, who came straight from California, is a globe-trotter. He arrived at Compiègne in offering his services two months ago, after playing in England, Germany and Israel, in order to discover new leagues.

Skyrm came to the Marlins for professional reasons, as a hydraulic engineer at Poclain.

"They are very motivated but sometimes I think they might be a little disappointed with the level of play because they surely know better," says Juan Coca.

Skyrm admits in short: "We (Andre and I) both have many years of experience behind us. André has played for nearly twenty years, and I for 16. The game here is a bit different from what we know in the US; there isn't quite the arm strength here."

With these strengths in their game, Compiègne is well-equipped to advance to the Elite league by winning the championship. Sternberg sees it, by adding a small personal note concerning his season goals: "Advance the team to the Elite level and ... become MVP of the league! "

From DEZEQUE ROMAN