La preuve par 7 ?
The game has really changed since the Challenge switched to 7 innings. Metz, now in D2, has gone to the final twice, Montigny won its first-ever title, and Savigny went on to win a championship it had been waiting for for 13 years. There is no doubt that the Challenge has become unpredictable, like a box of surprises. Congratulations to those who have been able to take advantage of it, but it is regrettable that a competition that offers a ticket to a European cup is not played in 9 innings. Just like the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival is never awarded to a short film, we may seem like old-fashioned people by saying that baseball is played in 9 innings, but unless proven otherwise, that is how it is played. It is certain that the majority of baseball fans would agree that 9 innings are the way to go.L’état de forme
Est-ce que les Lions et les Templiers, qui restent sur 4 victoires consécutives, sont les favoris pour cette édition 2026 ? Autrement dit, une équipe qui arrive en pleine forme au Challenge poursuit-elle sur sa lancée ? Ce n’est pas vraiment le cas si on regarde les 5 dernières éditions. En 2025, Savigny venait certes d’infliger un solide 8-1 à Rouen, mais restait sur un début de saison assez moyen (4-8). En 2024, Montpellier s’était incliné deux fois contre Toulouse, confirmant là aussi un début d’exercice peu convaincant (4-6). En 2023, les Templiers avaient perdu leurs 4 premiers matchs, mais avaient fini par remporter le Challenge. En 2022, les Lions avaient perdu leurs 3 premiers matchs, mais avaient fini par remporter le Challenge. En 2021, les Templiers avaient perdu leurs 2 premiers matchs, mais avaient fini par remporter le Challenge. En 2020, les Lions avaient perdu leurs 2 premiers matchs, mais avaient fini par remporter le Challenge. Donc, l’histoire récente du Challenge montre que les équipes qui arrivent en pleine forme ne sont pas toujours les favorites.Montigny had just beaten PUC 2-0, bringing them to only .500. In 2022, Rouen had tied against the Cougars. And in 2021, when the Challenge took place in September, Montpellier suffered their first two losses of the season (16-2) against Sénart.
The Curse
It’s a well-known fact that you shouldn’t organize the challenge if you want to win it. Only once in 20 editions has the local club won: Rouen in 2011. There have only been two finalists, Sénart in 2016 and Metz in 2025. And ten first-round eliminations, which means one out of two. Good luck to Toulouse.
The Past
Speaking of Toulouse, the Challenge is not really their cup of tea: one lost final in 2007, five semi-finals with only one won, no top-4 since 2016, and a record of 1 win and 12 losses since their return to D1 in 2019. Toulouse has never made it past the first round, and they are currently on a streak of 1 win and 12 losses. With 6 losses in a row, they are not doing well.
Montpellier : Jason Nayral. Ce n’est pas un début de saison idéal à la frappe (.184 seulement), ni 2 doubles, mais il est le seul joueur de l’équipe à avoir frappé un circuit, et c’est un joueur de champ intérieur qui peut apporter de la puissance à son équipe. Il a également été excellent au champ, avec 7 passes décisives et 10 jeux joués sans erreur. Il a été le joueur le plusParis UC : Julian Dussart. He catches, plays 3rd base, shortstop, leads off or bats second (.281, 3 triples), in short, damn good. He is the spark plug of a team in need of results, and if he manages to increase his performance level even more, he could lead his team to a surprise.
Rouen : Oscar Lebouc. His excellent start to the season (1 HR, 12 RBI, league leader in this category), was rewarded by his coach who put him in against La Rochelle at 4th. The young man responded with a 4-for-6, 2 RBI, 3 BB performance. In a team that is still looking for its place, he is taking on a real role.
Savigny : Luca Bernardi-Chiba. We saw him shine on the mound for the U15 French team last season, he confirms that he knows what he’s doing. »https://www.baseballtv.fr/challenge-de-france-2021/ » target= »_blank »>https://www.baseballtv.fr/challenge-de-france-2021/HERE
