Sénart continued its relentless start to the 2022 French Division I baseball season with a pair of strong all-around performances in Toulouse, while Savigny-sur-Orge started its season with a one-sided doubleheader sweep as well. The final series for the second weekend of French baseball also resulted in two victories for the same side, with La Rochelle giving Nice much to consider on its long journey home.
Highlights
Shane Priest showed that he could make any stadium his temple on Easter morning, spinning five no-hit innings as Sénart travelled to Toulouse for the latter’s Opening Weekend. By the time of the first and only blemish on his record to start the sixth, the Templiers were already ahead 3-0. Although Priest settled for eight one-hit innings, Sénart did not otherwise let up, cruising to an 8-0 blanking.
Priest (1-0) amassed 11 strikeouts and was unforgiving in his sacerdotal duties, offering no free passes. In two starts, he has permitted five hits, one walk, and no earned runs in 14 innings, retiring 22 by K.
Later that day, Alexandre Lods (2-0) tossed a six-hitter for the Templars, who only pulled out the 7-3 victory with four runs in the ninth, overcoming an early 3-1 lead by Toulouse. Thomas Greely had two singles and a double for Sénart in Game 1, while Héctor Velásquez and Mathis Meurant had three-hit games in the nightcap. Velásquez is first in Division I in RBI (9), tied for first in hits (9), and is second in hitting (.600).
Savigny took advantage of 12 PUC walks in the clubs’ first game, adding five singles, a brace of doubles, and two three-baggers to that number, swiping five bags as well. Gédéon Coste (1-0) scattered seven hits and a pair of walks in a complete game win, striking out eight. Axel Amoros was the only Lion with multiple hits, lacing three singles. Firmin Hassed (1-0) and Evertz Orozco gave Paris Université little with which to work in Game 2, and three hits from Yeixon Ruiz — plus four other two-hit games from Savigny’s lineup — led to a 13-2 thumping.
Franklín de la Rosa (1-0) needed only five frames to send down 10 Nice batters on strikes for La Rochelle in its home opener, while Wilce Ñieves pitched four innings for his first save. The two moundsmen were excellent at the dish, with the Boucaniers’ starter ripping a two-run single and Ñieves lashing a pair of doubles. Two triples from Jorge Suazo and three hits from Théo Lakmeche sealed the 12-5 win, while all of the Côte d’Azur club’s runs unearned.
Nicolas Antoine (1-0) and Anthony Torres combined on a three-hitter for La Rochelle in the second contest, while Felipe Lot mashed a three-run jack with no outs in the third for a 7-0 margin. After receiving four innings of rest in Game 1, courtesy of Ñieves, de la Rosa patrolled right field in the nightcap, registering a 3-for-3 day with two doubles, two runs, and two ribbies. He tops Division I in doubles. Ramiro Milar also had a ‘hit trick’, while Lakmeche was 2-for-2 with a two-bagger and a base knock in the rubber match.
Results [Box Scores]
Week 2 (Apr. 16-17)
Savigny 12 – PUC 5
Savigny 13 – PUC 2 (7)
Metz – Montigny (PP: May 1)
Metz – Montigny (PP: May 1)
Sénart 8 – Toulouse 0
Sénart 7 – Toulouse 3
Nice 0 – La Rochelle 9
Nice 5 – La Rochelle 13 (5)
Upcoming Schedule
Week 3 (Apr. 23-24)
Savigny – Rouen
Savigny – Rouen
Montigny – PUC
Montigny – PUC
La Rochelle – Toulouse
La Rochelle – Toulouse
MUC – Nice
MUC – Nice
Pool A Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB | H | A | RF | RA |
| Savigny-sur-Orge Lions | 2 | 0 | 1.000 | 0-0 | 2-0 | 25 | 7 | |
| Cougars de Montigny | 1 | 1 | .500 | 1 | 0-0 | 1-1 | 7 | 8 |
| Rouen Baseball 76 | 1 | 1 | .500 | 1 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 8 | 7 |
| Metz Cometz | 0 | 0 | – | 1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 |
| Paris Université Club | 0 | 2 | .000 | 2 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 7 | 25 |
Pool B Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB | H | A | RF | RA |
| Sénart Templiers | 4 | 0 | 1.000 | – | 2-0 | 2-0 | 32 | 7 |
| La Rochelle Buccaneers | 3 | 1 | .750 | 1 | 2-0 | 1-1 | 35 | 17 |
| MUC Barracudas | 1 | 1 | .500 | 2 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 12 | 13 |
| Stade Toulousain | 0 | 2 | .000 | 3 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 3 | 15 |
| Nice Cavigal | 0 | 4 | .000 | 4 | 0-0 | 0-4 | 9 | 39 |
By Gabriel Fidler.