Top: Nolan Soliveres worked behind the plate for Stade Toulousain across 18 innings. He also smacked a double in the seventh inning of the second game.
« Fluctuat nec mergitur »
On Sunday, June 26, the Division 1 championship context perfectly matched the old Parisian adage.
Two postponed matchups were on the schedule. Each of the four teams involved had their own challenge to rise to. Avoid sinking for the PUC, stay up for Metz, or keep playoff hopes alive for the Boucaniers.
Cometz (5-7) vs PUC (0-14)
In Moselle, the valiant Cometz from Metz, struggling in the standings (3-7 before this matchday), hosted one of the league’s cellar dwellers, the PUC. Tough for the Parisians to stay motivated facing their results (0-14) and the home side, who yesterday played for their « Elite » status and fully intended to keep shining in France’s top baseball constellation. Nothing was less certain on that June 26 morning for Pierre Cézard’s Messins, who showed class by extending their D1 presence for 2023.
A first game won 7-3. The Parisians still managed 7 hits against 6 for the Mosellans. Roze stood out again with a 2-for-4. Rogers Rodriguez and Frulloni added a double each. Khemache took his third loss with 5 hits, 6 strikeouts, and 8 walks allowed in 4 innings, earning just 1 run. Yasuda tried to plug the gap without success: 4 innings, 4 strikeouts, 2 walks, 3 hits, and 2 earned runs.
The Cometz pitcher, Jordan Patrick (2-4), took the win with 8 innings: 3 earned runs, 11 strikeouts, and 6 walks.
The second game saw pitcher/first baseman Rogers blast a home run in the ninth inning! A 7-8 victory for Metz, who also produced 10 hits (3-for-5 Roze, including a double). Regrets for the PUC, who still managed 7 runs and 8 hits, including a double and a triple by Rodriguez, and a 2-for-4 performance. Trevor Rogers took his second win, certainly one of his most memorable. In three innings, he struck out 4 Parisians on 3 pitches.
Four more games left for Grand Est baseball, with a heavy schedule: Huskies on July 3 (lost 1-11 and 4-13 in the first round) and Lions on July 23 (lost 5-0 and 7-5 in the first round).
Boucaniers (11-3) vs Toulouse (2-10)
Top: mutual respect between the two coaches.
On the same day, 700 kilometers from Meurthe-et-Moselle, just 200 meters from the Atlantic coast, Rochelaise baseball also pulsed with excitement. The Boucaniers desperately needed two more wins to dream of the playoffs… On June 5 in Toulouse, the first clash between the two sides had gone entirely in favor of the maritime side, who edged out the Argoulets (3-5 and 7-8). Things looked risky for the Rochelaise side, as they hadn’t dominated this year (but still dominated) teams they should have, like Toulouse or Nice. But their grit allowed them to take a game from the powerful Barracudas (9-3) (1-9 win) and the fearsome Templiers (10-2) (10-2 win).
The first nine innings were dominated start to finish by the Rochelaise side, but without any major drama as Nieves shut down the Toulouse bats, flirting with a no-hitter. That was until Toulouse’s Garcia (SS) smacked a single in the seventh. Wilce Nieves delivered a stellar performance: 9 innings, 14 strikeouts, 1 walk, 1 hit, 0 runs… At the plate, the catcher/first baseman Lakemeche, on fire this season, went 2-for-3. The Boucaniers safely connected for six hits against Lacombe (7 innings, 7 strikeouts, 3 walks) and then Esposito (1 inning, 1 walk).
The next nine innings were a different story. Rojas and Garcia gave the Rochelaise bats trouble, who managed just eight hits, late in the game. So much so that the Toulouse side believed in a stunning victory until the ninth, thanks to their four hits, including a double by Soliveres, who smashed the left-field fence with a line drive. Until the Boucaniers’ final at-bat, the Toulouse Latino diaspora held the lead with a 3-1 score. Only three hits had been produced by the home attack. Then everything unfolded in the ninth when Milar (3 strikeouts in the game) sent Garcia’s pitch deep to left field. 3-2. De La Rosa singled but was caught in a double play. Lot singled to left, and Suazo walked. Regnier struck out. With two outs, Esteban singled, driving in Lot. Crowford drew a walk. Torres Daniel hit the game-winning single, sending Suazo to challenge Soliveres and score on a slide.
The Boucaniers are on the playoff trail. Beware, their final matchday takes place at the Templiers’…
Top: The Marseillaise rings out at Boucan’s Field: View from the BTVF commentary booth. Boucaniers vs Stade Toulousain, June 26, 2022.
Meanwhile, the two losses in Moselle practically seal the fate of the « Violettes » from Stade Pershing, who could be relegated to D2 next season. Tough. This tragic trajectory could be shared by the Cavigals from Nice, who, like the Parisians, haven’t won a single game. Up to Jonathan Montas’ teammates to face Toulouse (2-10), who, despite their results, show a solid level of play and have won their only two victories against… Nice…
Vincent Picard
