Three games went ahead as scheduled, while one (Savigny vs. Nice) was postponed (reserve matchday on June 25). This means some teams, like Savigny, have only played 6 games so far, while others, such as Toulouse or Rouen, have played double that number, i.e., 12 games.
The standings are weighted, of course, but the difference in the number of games played can affect a true prospective analysis.
Let’s recap the three games from last weekend.
First up, Montigny hosted the PUC. The Cougars needed to regain their confidence to stay in the hunt behind the two leaders in Pool A. These two wins have reignited their campaign. The scores reflected a tough battle between the two sides, particularly in the first game. The second was easier for them to close out. The PUC, while competitive, are struggling to convert chances and are heading week after week towards consolidating their position at the bottom of Pool A.
Metz hosted Sénart, eager for revenge after two defeats in April. The Templiers rose to the occasion, showing great judgment both at the plate and on the mound. They won both games in style, repeating their April double-header success. The Cometz struggled to get going, hitting into the power and experience of the Templiers. Sénart now sits atop Pool B alongside Montpellier and Savigny. The battle between these three teams promises to be intense and should provide some thrilling baseball for the fans.
Finally, the much-anticipated clash in Pool A between Toulouse and Rouen lived up to its billing. Rouen are still struggling and lost their first game. Changes to the line-up and adjustments haven’t brought calm to the pack. Toulouse, with a winning mentality fitting for 2023, silenced the Rouen bats in the first game. A few defensive errors that have started to mount since the beginning of the season allowed Toulouse to score four runs. Yohann Vaugelade, the assistant coach, said, « We lacked discipline at the plate, hit into their defense without finding the gaps. Toulouse were much more opportunistic than us. » The second game was more about Rouen’s starting pitcher Quentin Moulin, who went six innings (6IP, 4H, 2BB, 1 earned run, and crucially, 10 strikeouts). The teams were tied in the eighth inning. Laot, pitching for Toulouse in the ninth, cracked, and Rouen took advantage.
On the general statistics front, Montpellier leads the batting average with .317, ahead of Sénart and Rouen. Montpellier also tops the pitching ERA with 1.29. This isn’t yet very representative, given the disparity in the number of games played by each team.
Individually, the only player to hit two home runs so far is Hugo Blondel, who has also hit two triples.
Tomorrow, we’ll preview the eighth matchday of next weekend in the « Weekend Matches » section.
