All week long, we’ve been able to admire the French softball team as they finished 7th in the European Championship. This weekend, however, no softball in the league, but the French 18U team kicks off the European Cup on Sunday evening. On the baseball side, only the final matchday of the regular season in Division 1.
Four matchups, one will be particularly watched as it will set the tone for the order of teams in Pool A. Toulouse travels to Rouen. If the teams split, they’ll both do well. Toulouse will finish first in their pool and Rouen will finish fourth. For Toulouse, this means they’ll face Sénart in the playoffs and not Montpellier, who seem to be the team to beat in 2023.
If Rouen wins both games, they stay third, which means they’ll face Metz in the play-downs. If they lose both or just one, La Rochelle will play Metz in the play-downs and Rouen will finish fourth in their pool. Montigny hosts PUC, and if they want to leapfrog Toulouse, they’ll need to win both games and wait for the results of the Toulouse vs. Rouen matchup.
Editor’s prediction: Split between Rouen and Toulouse, Montigny wins both games
In Pool B, no suspense left, the teams are already set, and this weekend’s matches won’t shake up the standings. Metz will look to gain confidence in Nice, who already have their minds on Division 2.
As for Montpellier, they’ll look to find team chemistry against Savigny. The latter are on the doorstep of the playoffs and may have some regrets about the year, but the top two teams in the pool, Montpellier and Sénart, have shown their dominance throughout the season.
Editor’s prediction: Metz wins both games, Montpellier and Savigny split.
