This penultimate round of the regular season has provided some clarity on the top teams in each pool. Toulouse and Montigny in Pool A, Montpellier and Sénart in Pool B have secured their spots in the playoffs.
On the side of the two top teams in their pools
By winning both of their games against Nice, Montpellier is guaranteed to finish first in Pool B and will thus play the semifinals against the second-place team in Pool A. It’s not the same for Toulouse. They still have two games left against Rouen, and Montigny also has two games to play against the PUC. We’ll make our predictions in this Friday’s weekend match article. Indeed, Montigny can still take the top spot, especially if Toulouse loses both or even one game against Rouen. Toulouse weakened their position by splitting their series against La Rochelle last weekend. The Boucaniers achieved the best possible outcome.
As for Montigny, they are at least guaranteed a second-place finish and can still overtake Toulouse. Their upcoming match against the PUC next Sunday should make their task easier. However, the PUC has regained their strength and form, as their victory against Rouen in the first game demonstrated. The PUC has only won two games so far this season, and both were against Rouen. The latter are but a shadow of their former selves this season.
Sénart, for their part in Pool B, secured their second-place finish and playoff qualification by sweeping both games against Savigny this weekend. Strong on the mound (Hvrytishvili and Meurant dominated their hill) and composed at the plate, with Félix Brown delivering a standout performance. Savigny knows they are third in their pool and will face the fourth-place team from Pool A in the play-downs.
On the side of the third and fourth-place teams.
In Pool A, Rouen and La Rochelle can no longer reach the playoffs. While La Rochelle, having finished their season, can only wait, Rouen must win at least one game. In that case, they would tie with the Boucaniers in wins and losses, but in total runs scored, they would be in third place. Then, the two playoff teams will face Metz and Savigny. The third-place team from Pool A will face Metz, while the fourth will face Savigny. These are not the same matchups at all.
This fourteenth round has given us the four playoff teams. What remains is the final standings among these eight teams, particularly in Pool A. Barring a misstep by Montigny against the PUC, a single confrontation will definitively rank these great teams, and it will be broadcast: Rouen against Toulouse.
