The last two weekends of Division 2 competition were heavily impacted by the severe heatwave, forcing the league to cancel or postpone the majority of matches. On the few fields where play was maintained, the sweltering heat seemed to exhaust pitchers far quicker than batters. The box scores from the three series played reveal particularly lopsided contests, marked by defensive collapses and offensive feasts of rare intensity.
MONTIGNY COUGARS vs MONTPELLIER 2 BARRACUDAS:
The clash between Montigny and Montpellier’s reserve side highlighted the gap in depth and discipline between a title contender and a bottom-of-the-table team. The Cougars gave their opponents no chance, ruthlessly capitalizing on Montpellier’s defensive waste.
Game 1 (MON 11 – 4 MTP):
Montigny’s success was built around another XXL performance from Ricky Jon Deeble. On the mound, the Paris-region ace once again proved his ability to absorb innings, tossing a complete game (7.0 IP). He secured the win, allowing only 3 ER on 5 H, while dominating the zone with 9 SO. The dynamic was radically different for Montpellier’s starter Noé Niepceron-Agrelo, who took the loss after surrendering 5 runs (3 earned) in just 3.0 IP.
The Cougars’ offense didn’t need to force their talent, simply exploiting Montpellier’s 3 errors to widen the gap. The offensive effort was perfectly distributed: Victor Polo (1B) and Kiyoshi Grisot Garbacz (LF) each drove in 2 RBIs. A standout moment of this match was Ricky Jon Deeble’s excellence at the plate, compiling 2 H and 2 RBIs, embodying his team’s superiority.
Game 2 (MTP 4 – 14 MON):
In the afternoon, Montigny intensified the pressure to complete a sweep wrapped up in 5 innings by the “mercy rule”. The lineup pounded Montpellier’s pitchers with 10 H, while capitalizing on the total collapse of the opposition’s fielding, which committed 4 more errors. The bottom and middle of the lineup were the engines of this victory: Hector Velasquez (SS), Valentin De Carrois (3B/RF) with a 3B, and Ricky Jon Deeble (DH) all went 2-for-2 with 2 RBIs each.
On the mound, Montigny’s pitching staff management was optimal. Wyatt Nouhaud (P) handled the start with 3.0 IP for 3 ER. It was then reliever Victor Polo (P) who secured the W with 2.0 perfect innings of relief without allowing a single run. For Montpellier, Corentin Deleau (P) took the L after a painful outing of 2.2 IP where he allowed 9 R, only 4 of which were earned, a symbol of the desperate lack of support from his defense.
MEYZIEU-DÉCINES CARDS vs BRÉAL-SOUS-MONTFORT BLACK PANTHERS:
In a series shortened by the heat, the lone match played confirmed the solidity of Meyzieu-Décines’ fundamentals against a Breton side weakened by their defensive play.
Game 1 (MDC 7 – 3 BRE):
The Cards know how to win tight games: by relying on their ace. Martin Lavergne delivered a true clinic of stability, tossing a complete game (7.0 IP). Efficient and precise, he secured the W, limiting the damage to 2 ER on 5 H, with 4 SO. This consistency on the mound allowed Meyzieu’s offense to build their victory calmly, notably led by Carlos Eduardo De Oliveira Gomez (CF) who drove in 2 RBIs on 2 H.
The contrast was striking for the Black Panthers. Starter Louka Renaudin took the loss, surrendering 5 runs in 4.0 IP, struggling to find his rhythm. While the Breton offense tried to exist in flashes, like the 2 hits from Melvine Guesdon (1B) and the RBI from Jules Fontaine (CF), the 4 errors committed by Bréal’s fielding sank any attempt at a comeback, offering too many openings to Cards who didn’t need them.
(Game 2 of this series was postponed).
ROUEN 2 HUSKIES vs MONTPELLIER 2 BARRACUDAS:
When two teams struggling on the mound meet in extreme conditions, scoreboards tend to explode. The series between the reserves of the Huskies and the Barracudas offered a bewildering spectacle where defenses and bullpens completely fell apart.
Game 1 (ROU 18 – 14 MTP):
With 32 runs scored in total, this match was a true offensive feast. From the early innings, it was clear that pitching would be mere formality. Rouen’s starter David Casey imploded early, pulled after just 1.0 IP with 3 ER. Amid the chaos, reliever Matteo Manaranche (P) became an unlikely hero for the Huskies, managing to secure the W by stopping the bleeding: he pitched 2.1 IP without allowing a single run (0 R) on just 1 H.
The Normandy offense capitalized on the collapse of Montpellier’s bullpen, with Jeremy O’Brien (RF) being devastating, recording 2 H, a 2B, and 4 RBIs. For Montpellier, despite the power of Elvis Briceño (SS) who hit a HR and drove in 3 RBIs, the relievers crumbled. Ali Mehdi took the loss, allowing 4 ER in 2.0 IP, illustrating Montpellier’s difficulty in holding a lead.
Game 2 (MTP 22 – 9 ROU):
In the afternoon, Montpellier channeled their frustration to deliver a true thrashing to Rouen and secure a well-deserved split. Normandy’s pitching surrendered immediately: starter Lucas Laval Quesney had a catastrophic outing, pulled after 0.1 IP with 5 ER already on the board. The Barracudas never let up, accumulating a total of 21 H over the entire match. Loïc Cyprien (2B) stood out with 3 H and 2 RBIs, while Timofei Drean (3B) produced 3 crucial RBIs.
The most surprising but successful decision was Montpellier’s management of Corentin Deleau on the mound. Despite allowing 9 R, the staff let him finish the complete game (6.0 IP). This strategic choice to conserve the bullpen paid off thanks to the massive run support from his team, giving the W to the Hérault pitcher. For Rouen, the individual standout performance of Adriano Terlizzi (3B), who went 3-for-3 with a triple and 2 RBIs, remained anecdotal in the face of the collective shipwreck.
Crédit photographique : Hiep images
Matteo Van Parys
