Seven-run seventh lifts Victoriaville into league final
The Cactus de Victoriaville staged a stunning late rally to eliminate the Big Bill de Coaticook 12-7 on Sept. 20 and clinch their berth in the Ligue de baseball majeur du Québec (LBMQ) final.
Coaticook carried a 7-5 lead into the bottom of the seventh, but Victoriaville erupted for seven runs before the Big Bill could record an out in the inning. The inning featured key two-run singles from Mathieu Sirois and Samuel Fortier, and put the Cactus ahead decisively in the best-of-seven division final, which they won 4-1.
"Victoriaville scored seven runs in the seventh inning"
Earlier in the game Victoriaville had chipped away at Coaticook’s advantage. Sirois had provided an early boost with a solo home run in the third inning, while Raphaël John Leblanc had homered for a two-run shot in the second.
Pitching decisions and turning points
Josué Peley was credited with the victory for Victoriaville, while Coaticook’s Louis Ager was tagged with the loss — his first of the playoffs. The offensive outburst gave Peley and the Cactus a margin that Coaticook could not overcome.
Coaticook’s offence had been productive at stretches of the contest. The Big Bill put together three-run frames in both the fourth and the sixth innings. In the sixth, they manufactured their go-ahead rally in part through patient at-bats that resulted in three bases-loaded walks to Kyle Hazel, Julien Castagnier-Charlebois and Maxime Beaudoin.
Despite those efforts, Coaticook finished with 10 hits to Victoriaville’s 12. Several Coaticook hitters had multi-hit games; Francis Lefebvre, for example, reached base repeatedly and finished 2-for-4 with a run-scoring single in the fourth.
What this means for Victoriaville and the LBMQ final
The win sends the Cactus into the LBMQ championship round, where they will await the winner of the other division final. For Victoriaville fans, the comeback is a reminder of the thin margins in playoff baseball and the potential for momentum to swing dramatically in a single inning.
Victoriaville’s advancement also highlights the depth of offence available to the club — a lineup capable of multiple extra-base homers and timely situational hitting when it mattered most. The team will now turn its focus to preparing for the final series, knowing an opponent awaits who will bring their own playoff form and strategies.
- Final score: Victoriaville 12, Coaticook 7
- Series result: Victoriaville wins division final 4-1
- Winning pitcher: Josué Peley
- Losing pitcher: Louis Ager
Meanwhile in the other division
Across the league, the Castors d’Acton Vale moved to the brink of joining Victoriaville in the final, taking a 3-2 lead in their best-of-seven series with a 3-0 victory over the Jets de Montréal at Stade Léo-Asselin. All three runs for Acton Vale came in the fourth inning, with Reinaldo Ramirez driving in two with a single and David Gauthier scoring on a relay play.
Acton Vale starter Félix Côté posted the win and Marcos Encarnacion earned the save. Montreal’s Zachary Leduc struck out 10 but surrendered the three runs and was saddled with the loss.
With Acton Vale now leading their series 3-2, the LBMQ final could be set quickly if Acton Vale closes out their series; otherwise Victoriaville will await the winner after it completes its own preparations for the championship round.
| Team | Runs | Hits |
|---|---|---|
| Victoriaville Cactus | 12 | 12 |
| Coaticook Big Bill | 7 | 10 |
For Victoriaville residents and baseball followers across Centre-du-Québec, the Cactus’ dramatic comeback is both a cause for celebration and a reminder of the playoff intensity that defines the LBMQ. The team now turns to final preparations, scouting potential opponents and resting key players ahead of what could be a long, demanding championship series.
