The semi-final matchups in the play-offs and play-downs continue this weekend. In three, four, or five games, we’ll know the finalists for the 2023 Division 1 season by Sunday night.
Play-offs
Toulouse and Montpellier split their first weekend series in Toulouse. The return leg is in Montpellier. For Toulouse, all hands are on deck, and the bats will be swinging hard, but they’ll be playing away (even if Toulouse isn’t far from Montpellier). For Montpellier, two weaknesses that didn’t surface during the regular season have emerged: they’re missing five players who left for college in the USA, and ace pitcher Kevin Canelon has been nursing a shoulder issue since the last weekend. Daniel Gosselin has managed to compensate for the Barracudas’ pitching struggles, and he’ll need to replicate his best performance to secure the team. This clash seems up in the air, and we wouldn’t be surprised if the outcome isn’t decided until the fifth game. As for which team might pull ahead, we’ll leave that to your predictions.
Further north, near the capital, the other semi-final between Montigny and Sénart is set to unfold. Here too, both teams split their series in Sénart. This return leg in Montigny favors the Cougars. Moreover, Montigny’s only loss came from a strategy of not changing their ace pitcher, who secured the win with a walk-off base on balls. Montigny seems better equipped to dominate the Sénart side, who have seen some tensions between players and coaching staff that aren’t helping team harmony. Thus, Montigny’s victory in the first two games seems plausible.
Play-downs
Rouen, playing away in Metz, dominated the Cometz twice. They could wrap up the series in three wins on Saturday, but Metz might have a late surge of pride and force the Huskies to wake up on Sunday morning for more games. Ultimately, however, Rouen should secure their spot to fight for fifth place.
La Rochelle hosted Savigny, and both teams split their series. While the Buccaneers seemed dominant in both games, they let the Lions claw their way back in the first match and ultimately win. No one doubts that Saturday’s game will be psychologically crucial for whichever team wins it. La Rochelle’s second game of the last weekend, won under the mercy rule (10-0), suggests they’re capable of sending the Savigny Lions to the relegation games. However, Savigny will be at home, and their full roster will be present, unlike when they traveled to La Rochelle on August 19th and 20th.
