The verdict is clear. Valenciennes and Béziers finished top of their pools in the regular season and now face off in the play-off final. Clermont and Sénart2 couldn’t find their rhythm.
Let’s recap the semi-finals.
Valenciennes vs. Clermont
It took five games to separate the two teams. Last year in the final, Clermont won in three games. This year, the final will be a best-of-three, just like the semi-finals. Valenciennes got their revenge. The third game nearly broke their will to reach the final after a narrow 4-3 defeat. At home, they could count on their fans to lift them up and win the next two games.
Béziers vs. Sénart 2
Béziers were knocked out in the semi-finals in 2022, while Sénart fell in the quarter-finals. This year, Béziers had the chance to reach the final, and they did. They split the first weekend and didn’t flinch on the second, winning the two games needed to advance to the final. Notably, they won the first game under the mercy rule, giving them a strong psychological edge to close out the series in four games.
The Final
The final is set for two weekends, unlike in 2022, when it was a best-of-three. It starts in Béziers, giving Valenciennes the home advantage for the final games. The winner will face Metz on October 15th weekend. Metz declared forfeit in the playoffs against La Rochelle next weekend. They can now focus on staying in D1 next month. The best-of-three winner will either promote to D1 next year or Metz will keep their spot. However, the D2 winner might decline promotion. We’ll know more in the winter when teams register.
Béziers and Valenciennes are both well-structured clubs. Their presidents, François Bonnet and Marc Williamson, strongly motivate players and volunteers. Both are eager to win the championship and try their luck in D1. Beyond the sport, they’ll have to weigh the human and financial pros and cons.
Statistically, both teams are close in batting and pitching, with Valenciennes holding a slight edge. In pitching, Valenciennes’ Paten has slightly lower stats than Béziers’ ace, Dazell. Paten boasts a near 50% batting average, matching Béziers’ Pilar Velasquez. Pitching depth will be key, especially in a best-of-five series.
