Henri and the Artists take the Championship in 7

[stevem810]

Julien Henri and the Paris Artists had to go 7 games and 11 innings to defeat the slightly favorited Anse D'Arlet Sting Rays to win the French Baseball League title and put a cap on the 16th season. The Rays, in their best season, boasted an impressive 94-44 record, best in the Martinique Division. The Paris Artists won the France Division with a 91-47 record. They defeated the Quebec Snake Eyes, winner of the French Canadian Division, easily sweeping them 4-0.

Not so with the Sting Rays who charged out to a 2-0 series lead. But the Parisians won all three at Arc de Triomphe ball park to force the series to go back to Martinique. The Rays battled from a 4-0 deficit to win game 6 by a score of 6-4 to set up the dramatics for Game 7.

A two out double in the bottom of the 9th allowed the Sting Rays to tie the game at 3-3 but the Artists bounced right back in the 11th when leadoff man Laurant Mercier fouled off 7 pitches before lining a single. The rest of the Artists kept at it while taking advantage of an infield miscue and just like that 3 runs were on the board. That sealed it.

For Henri it was his 6th championship, three with Le Diamant and the last three with Paris. A two way player his entire career, Henri couldn't quite equal his .330 season of a year ago but he'll settle for .303 and the title, something that slipped away from the Artists the prior season.

On the mound Henri was 16-5 with a 3.21 ERA.

[BirdWatcher]

Nice to see an update on young Mr. Henri, who is not so young anymore.
Looks like he is still abundantly talented though now in his early 30's.
I will look forward to future reports.

And congrats to the Artists!

[stevem810]

Hey Birdwatcher! Thanks for the post. Hope you are well.

I just advanced a few days and the post-season awards are in. Laurant Mercier, the best hitter the league has ever seen, won another Platinum Stick Award but look at the results of the MVP with teammate Julien!

note: I did not vote.