With 28 wins and only 14 losses, the Associés are in second spot in the standings, 3 games behind league-leading LaSalle Cardinals, and just ahead of three other teams – Quebec, Charlesbourg and Trois-Rivières – who are breathing down their necks.
The Associés are poised to do what they must in the stretch drive to finish first, assured field manager Guy Roy, who didn't hide his satisfaction over the benefits of the forced hiatus imposed by the national championships. "The 10 ten days of rest were healthy for us (because) we were coming out of a very difficult part of the schedule," he admitted.
With a favourable schedule that sees them play six of their last eight games at home, the Associés have not lost sight of first place, said Roy, who's into his 12th season as a field manager in the elite league, the past eight as skipper of the Laval team.
Following their visit to Longueuil, the Associés play at home, Friday, August 14, against league-leaders LaSalle, on whom they have a game in hand.
Saturday, August 15, the Associés play a home twin-bill, taking on the Diamants, the Quebec City team they have beaten three out of three this season.
"It's not the same team," Roy cautioned, adding that the games they won against Quebec were the first three of the season. In fact, the Diamants were tied with the Associés for second spot, 3.5 games behind LaSalle, at mid-week.
It's a tight race at the top of the league, with only six games separating the top six teams. Quebec, Laval, Charlesbourg, Trois-Rivières, and Repentigny are all closely bunched behind LaSalle. It's still a pennant race and all of these teams are aiming to climb to the top of the standings. The heat is on for the final stretch before playoffs begin at the end of the month.
Guy Roy said this is his best team among the eight he's managed since taking over the helm of the Associés eight years ago.
"This is a better team than 1999, the one that smacked 101 homers, won their division, and finished second overall," said the manager, adding that the 2009 pitching staff is far superior to 1999.
Including position players, eight of the Associés can take to the mound at any time and get the job done, according to Roy.
Among their fine pitchers, the Associés can count Yann Charbonneau, the ace of the staff with a 5-1 record. The 18-year-old's impressive credentials have earned him a spot on the Quebec team that will vie with the rest of the country for national junior baseball supremacy at the 2009 Canada Games, scheduled for Charlottetown, P.E.I at the end of August.
"He'll be back just in time for the playoffs," concluded Guy Roy.
with John Fasciano
