The Marlins de Compiègne swept the best-of-three Nationale 1 final series last weekend against the Woodchucks Bois-Guillaume to secure a spot in the 2010 season of the French Elite League. They will replace the relegated Arvernes Clermont-Ferrand in the eight-team league. Bois-Guillaume already had lost last year’s Nationale 1 finals against the Cougars Montigny. It is the first national title for the Marlins in 20 years team history.
Game 1: Bois-Guillaume – Compiègne 2-4
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André Sternberg led the way in game one, pitching the complete nine innings, while allowing just two runs (1 ER) on four hits and a walk. He struck out eleven batters to seal the 4-2 victory. Gordon Toussaint went two-for-four with a RBI. Luis Gomez walked and scored twice. Frederic Taguchi also drove in a run.
Game 2: Compiègne – Bois-Guillaume 2-1
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The Marlins received another strong pitching performance in game two of the best-of-three series. Robert Brunard issued just one unearned run on four hits and a walk in nine innings to lead Compiègne to a 2-1 win. He collected seven strikeouts. Boubakar Guaye, who went three-for-five, scored the first run in the third on a single by Juan Coca. One frame later Guaye singled in Luis Gomez to make it 2-0. The Woodchucks only were able to cut the deficit in a half in the seventh, avoiding the shutout.
