The COUGARS won the championship in the France Nationale 1 League (second division in French Baseball) and secured a spot in the 2009 edition of the Elite League. They beat BOIS GUILLAUME 4-2 and 8-6 (11) to win the series 2-0.
(1-0) Cougars de Montigny – Bois Guillaume 4-2
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The COUGARS used a three-run eighth to beat BOIS GUILLAUME 4-2 in game of the finals on Saturday. MONTIGNY had taken a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth on a RBI groundout by Noel Ehrt. BOIS GUILLAUME countered with two runs in the sixth to go up 2-1. They loaded the bases with one out and scored on a muffed throw by the catcher after a fielder’s choice to third and a RBI groundout by Vincent Bertrauts.
But the guests would blow the lead. The COUGARS began the eighth with two singles and a hit by pitch to load the bases. Christophe Herard came through and singled home two runs to bring them back on top. Guillaume Lafeuille followed with a RBI bunt single through the right side of the infield to add an insurance run on the board.
Guillaume Bilweiss (W 1-0) picked up the win with a complete game. He allowed eight hits, two unearned runs and two walks, while striking out six. Marc Bouchard (L 0-1) conceded seven hits, four runs and a base on balls in eight innings. He had seven strikeouts and hit four batters with pitches in the loss.
(0-2) Bois Guillaume – Cougars de Montigny 6-8 (11)
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MONTIGNY needed two runs in the eleventh to beat BOIS GUILLAUME in game two of the finals. Christophe Herard walked on four pitches and two outs in the second extra inning. Guillaume Lafeuille drove him in with a triple down the right field line and later scored also on a single by Guillaume Bilweiss.
BOIS GUILLAUME had taken a 6-5 lead in the sixth, when they put four runs on the board through an error by the first baseman and a two-run single by Stephane Bernaquez. But it was not enough to force a decisive third match, as MONTIGNY would eventually tie the contest in the top of the seventh on a RBI single by Alexandre Couton. Sebastien Duchossoy went three for five with a triple, three runs scored and a RBI. Couton and Wesley Coopman each drove in two for the COUGARS. Olivier Stephany scored twice for BOIS GUILLAUME.
Duchossoy (W 1-0) also had a busy day on the mound. He started and went the distance for MONTIGNY, giving up nine hits, six runs (3 ER) and six walks. He struck out eleven in eleven innings and needed 175 pitches to pick up the victory.
Bernaquez got the starting nod for BOIS GUILLAUME. He was charged with nine hits, six runs and three bb in six-plus innings, striking out eight. Tony Lewis (L 0-1) relieved him and struck out eight in the remaining five frames, but was awarded the loss, as he stood on the mound, when the winning runs crossed the plate.
Awards
Best Pitcher: Guillaume Bilweiss (MON), 9 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO.
Best Batter: Christophe Herard (MON), .571, OBP .700, SLG .714, 2B, 4 H, 2 Runs, 3 RBI.
Most Valuable Player: Sebastien Duchossoy (MON), AVG .444, 4 Runs scored, RBI, 11 IP, 11 SO, ERA 2.45.