France, D1 Baseball Championship.
While on Monday, Pete Alonso of the New York Mets won his second consecutive HR Derby in Colorado at Denver’s Coors Field, the previous day saw the matchday that marks the exact end of the first period of the D1 regular season across the hexagon. A weekend that, like the previous ones, had its share of memorable events. On the Atlantic coast, the Boucaniers, 3rd in Group B standings (5-3, .219 AVG, 3.78 ERA), took a heavy toll on the Barracudas. Two defeats, one of them crushing, for the home team 1-3 and 0-12 (HR to the left by American Cosgrove). The players from Hérault, top of Group B and A standings (8-0, .289 AVG, 0.51 ERA), keep rolling, undefeated. Bad operation for the Cougars (2-6, .188 AVG, 3.84 ERA): Montigny shares in Toulouse and drops to 4th place in Group A. The Tigers, 3rd (4-4, .210 AVG, 3.95 ERA), have a chance to play next weekend against PUC, last in Group A, to keep their third place. The Parisians (2-6, .220 AVG, 6.00 ERA) lost both games against their neighbors from Savigny, still impressive with 7-1, .322 AVG, 3.68 ERA. The Templiers (6-0, .323 AVG, 0.95 ERA) are rolling at home, 10-0 and 10-4 against the Cometz (2-8, .196 AVG, 3.84 ERA) who let both games slip away. The Arvernes (3-7, .249 AVG, 6.13 ERA) dominate the Cavigals (2-8, .180 AVG, 4.57 ERA) without sharing in Nice 5-15 and 5-12. Rouen was exempt and for good reason, the Huskies were preparing for their trip to Ostrava in the Czech Republic for their 17th European campaign, from July 13 to 15.
So what can we take away at the halfway point?
In Group B, there are still two big teams left for the Cougars (Rouen and Savigny) already in a delicate position. They’ll need to step up in Montigny. A perhaps « less complicated » day against Toulouse that they must not miss. Same for the Toulousains who have to « face » the Rouennais and the Lions before perhaps breathing a little easier against PUC. The PUCists will need a spectacular comeback to climb the standings by focusing on their visits to Toulouse and Montigny-le-Bretonneux. Battles at the bottom of the table for the Cometz from Metz and Nice. Attention for the Cometz on « more accessible » days away in Nice and on the 10th day when they host Clermont. Nice, who has already faced the Templiers and taken a « game » from the Boucaniers, will have to concentrate all their forces on the return matches along the Atlantic coast in La Rochelle. Other opportunities against the Arvernes and Metz where picking up a few wins would be the best effect.
At the very top, the Barracudas are hitting hard and conceding very few points. Proof of this is a provisional ERA close to zero. Big spectacle in store against the Templiers for example, masters in their domain: wins, hitting and the mound… Titan clashes on the 9th day: Rouen – Savigny! Or even on the 10th: Sénart – MUC! By then, the Huskies pack might find their usual lineup, deprived of some starters. Next meeting on July 25! Follow us live during home games, at the Boucaniers baseball stadium, on the BaseballTV app!
Vincent Picard
Photo Credits: Alonso Almédo Castro
