Can baseball adapt to the scorching heat? In Division 2, three matchups took place last weekend: two semifinals and a play-down.
Clermont vs. Valenciennes
Valenciennes had home-field advantage for the return leg and managed to snatch a win on the road against the Arvernes. This split is definitely in favor of the Vipers. The Clermont side was stunned in the first game. Andrew Paten pitched all nine innings for Valenciennes, while Clermont used three pitchers. With hits (10-9) and strikeouts (8-5) nearly even, one might think the game was close, but Valenciennes’ nine walks put runners on base, leading to crucial RBIs that made the difference.
In the second match, the tables turned. The Arvernes dominated in hits (11-2), with Lorienne leading the charge. The starting pitchers were less dominant, and Valenciennes allowed nine walks and four hit by pitches, which certainly didn’t help their cause.
This split sets the stage for a thrilling return leg next weekend, which will be broadcast on Vipers TV. Notably, this will be the 1000th and final game officiated by Fabien Carrette Legrand as an umpire. We’ll look back on his career in an upcoming article.
Sénart 2 vs. Béziers
Here too, we witnessed a split between the two teams playing on the Templiers’ home turf. Nicholas Dazell for Béziers faced off against Mathéo Launay for Sénart, who wasn’t with the Division 1 squad. Dazell was dominant, racking up 13 strikeouts. Pilar and Surjus swung big, driving in the key runs. It was a classic pitcher’s duel, as we often see in our leagues.
The second match evened out in terms of pitching, with fewer strikeouts (5 each) and nearly equal hits (around ten each), but the Templiers capitalized on their opportunities, driving in eleven RBIs. Seven runs were scored in the third inning, with Sénart taking a 5-3 lead and running through their lineup. Mathéo Launay finished the game on the mound and went 3-for-3 at the plate. His presence was crucial. The two teams will meet again in Béziers for the return leg, with the Pirates holding home-field advantage.
La Guerche de Bretagne vs. La Rochelle
The Hawks hosted the Boucaniers in a relegation match. Mercy rule in the fifth inning—game over. The Rochelais will now face the Division 3 winner, whose tournament starts this weekend and runs for nearly a month. La Guerche secures its spot in Division 2 and pulls off a great result. Their progress, much like Anglet’s, is noteworthy. They’ll be even stronger next year and aim to secure their position earlier in the season to avoid the stress of play-downs.
