Savigny rewarded for consistency

And there they are—Savigny all alone at the top of the standings. It’s the logical conclusion to a season they controlled from start to finish. Nearly untouchable (10-2) at their own home field—even if it’s far from the city center—the Lions also know how to travel, with a league-best seven road wins. They’re the only team yet to lose a doubleheader, and their only two-game losing streak came in back-to-back road trips to Rouen and Béziers. It’s that kind of consistency that’s carried the Lions to the top.

This season’s success wasn’t just about their schedule; it was built on some standout individual performances, too. Pena was dominant once again in Savigny’s win over Sénart. He didn’t allow an earned run (and in fact, he’s given up more than two earned runs just once all season), tossed his fifth outing of 10+ strikeouts, and surpassed the seven-inning mark for the fifth time. While he sometimes issues too many free passes (five against the Templiers), he always puts his team in a position to win. His line for the year? 9-2, 1.35 ERA, 108 strikeouts in 86.1 innings—numbers that speak for themselves.

In relief, Orozco was once again a workhorse (19 appearances) and delivered when it mattered most, striking out all three batters he faced in key spots. You could talk about the Lions’ offensive firepower, led by Acuna and the Amoros brothers, but the pitching was the driving force behind their rise to the top of the standings—and their chance to stay there with a tough test ahead against the Barracudas. The defense, however, remains a concern. Savigny committed 60 errors this season, tied for the most in the league. Five of those came in their final game, including four from rookie shortstop Grosjean-Gardaix, who struggled mightily in the field. Can a team win a championship with such a glaring weakness at such a critical position? Savigny will have to answer that question—and soon.

Another question is starting to get an answer: what’s going on with Rouen? The Huskies slept through much of the season, only to flip the switch when it mattered most, turning it on just in time for the stretch run. After dominating La Rochelle, they faced their biggest test against the Barracudas—and delivered in a big way (13-3, 7-1). Montpellier pushed hard, applying early pressure and nearly rattling Rouen in the opening frames. They played outstanding defense (four straight error-free games, including some jaw-dropping plays in the outfield and at third base), but the Huskies cracked both the starting rotation (Lesfargues and Delgado both faltered after four innings) and the bullpen after a brief adjustment period.

The veterans stepped up in a big way, none more so than Blondel, who was at his best (1 HR, 4 RBI), and Bert, who smacked his first two doubles of the season. Oscar Lebouc shook off his midseason struggles to rediscover his form (5-for-8, 5 RBI), while Harrison continued his stellar work at the top of the lineup (5-for-9). There was even a moment for the ages when Japanese import Megumi, victim of four consecutive strikeouts (the dreaded “golden sombrero”), turned around and crushed a home run on his next at-bat. Four Ks, then a HR—something you don’t see every day.

If Rouen’s offense is clicking again—and it sure looks that way—the real worry for the rest of the league is their pitching staff. With Prioul, Mercadier, Ito, and Taido, the Huskies boast the deepest rotation in French baseball. They’ll now look to sweep Sénart to secure their hold on second place.

La Rochelle, meanwhile, bounced back from a tough 1-5 stretch with a solid showing against Toulouse. Nieves once again proved why he’s not just the league’s best reliever, but one of its top pitchers overall, throwing 5 dominant innings and fanning eight in relief of Krzykawiak, who absorbed a rough outing against Rouen (4 innings, 1 earned run). Speaking of pitching, De La Rosa was electric in the second game, allowing just two hits and zero runs over six innings. The offense got going too, with Pena driving in three runs on Saturday and Briones going 4-for-4 on Sunday—proof that they’re the engine of the Boucaniers’ lineup.

With their best season in club history (17 wins), La Rochelle clinched a semifinal berth for the second straight year, cementing their status as one of Division 1’s powerhouses.

At the bottom of the standings, the PUC went out on a high note, beating Béziers in the final game of the season. The Pirates stayed true to their season-long formula: a thunderous offense (two games with 15 hits each), a pitching staff that struggled to keep up, and the absence of Froment, who had been sharp in his final outings. Béziers weathered a rough offseason but managed to stay afloat, leaning on a talented Venezuelan core while also developing some exciting young talent.

Back in Paris, they might wonder what could have been if Reyes had been healthy from the start—but as the saying goes, “what ifs” don’t win championships. The PUC will be back in Division 2 next season, ready to rebuild.

F.Colombier

Crédit photographique : RS Clubs