In 2025, the Comanches of Saint-Raphaël did more than just win a championship. They imposed total, methodical, and spectacular dominance over French women’s softball. With a second consecutive title, a near-perfect season, and a final series mastered from start to finish, the Var team firmly established itself at the top.

A season of conquerors

The numbers speak for themselves: out of 20 games played, the Comanches won 18, only losing to Évry-Courcouronnes (1-12) and Pessac (2-4). The rest of the season was marked by mastery, with often decisive scores:

• Against Pessac: 9-0, 4-2, 6-0, 11-4
• Against Grenoble: 11-3, 15-7, 11-3, 12-2
• Against Clapiers-Jacou: 8-0, 11-2, 14-4, 9-2
• Against Évry-Courcouronnes: 10-3, 8-4, 10-3, 1-12
• Against Colombes: 9-2, 11-3, 8-1, 12-11

This consistency is no accident. It is based on a dense offense, a formidable pitching rotation, and a disciplined defense. Every aspect of the game was mastered, every player contributed their part.

 The offense: an offensive armada

Individual statistics confirm what the scores suggested. Ines Marie (.490 AVG, .816 SLG, 23 RBI) was the most consistent and powerful hitter. Mélissa Mayeux, in just 4 games, boasts an OPS of 1.643. Prapeng De Ridder (.484 AVG, 11 RBI) combines precision and power, while Chiara Enrione-Thorrand (.378 AVG, 25 RBI) stands out as the best run producer.

The mound: two pillars, a wall

On the pitching side, two names stand out: Prapeng De Ridder and Elise Buvat. The former has a record of 13-0, an ERA of 1.36, and 89 strikeouts in 61.2 innings. The latter, with an ERA of 1.18 and an opponent average of .159, completes a nearly impermeable rotation.

Against them, opponents were often silenced. Few hits, few points, and above all an inability to string together hits. The Comanches knew how to lock down their games right from the mound.

A flawless defense

The defense was not left behind. Ines Marie, again, boasts a perfect fielding percentage (1.000) over 47 defensive plays. Léna Touret, Farah Saidi, and Youna Pascale Clotilde complete this trio of efficiency. Behind the plate, Chiara Enrione-Thorrand was imperial: 127 defensive plays, 3 double plays, and surgical management of stolen bases.

Lisa Vieira and Elsa Munier also shone with their consistency, while Pauline Prade secured the infield with authority. A well-distributed, complementary, and always alert defense.

The final: three acts, a demonstration

Against a valiant but overwhelmed Paris-region team, the Comanches played out their score in three games:

 Game 1: 9-2, Sofia Hammacott hits 3/3, Chiara and Lisa Vieira each produce 2 runs. The offense is surgical, the defense locks down.

 Game 2: 12-2, Chiara hits a decisive hit for 4 RBI. Ines Haudiquer and Lisa Vieira each score 3 runs. Elsa Munier stands out with 2 hits and 2 RBI.

 Game 3: 9-2, a carbon copy of the first act: 7 hits, 7 RBI, 8 walks. Chiara, again, signs 2 hits and 1 RBI. Sofia Hammacott also puts on a great final series.

Three games, three clear victories, and an impression of ease that speaks volumes about the collective mastery.

If the Comanches shine through their collective effort, Chiara Enrione-Thorrand embodies this excellence. Elected MVP of the final series, she was omnipresent: behind the plate, at bat, in the crucial moments. With 5 hits, 6 RBI, and no strikeouts in the series, she was the metronome of the team. Her leadership, consistency, and ability to turn the tide of games make her a central figure of this emerging dynasty.

A dynasty in the making

With this second consecutive title, the Comanches of Saint-Raphaël are no longer just a dominant team. They become a reference, a model, a dynasty in the making. Their ability to renew performances, maintain standards, and bring out talents confirms a well-established winning culture. And if 2024 was the year of revelation, 2025 is the year of confirmation. A resounding, unchallenged confirmation that hints at an even more ambitious future.

Review of the season with Chiara Enrione-Thorrand, who kindly agreed to answer our questions:

BTVF: 2 consecutive French Championship titles, MVP of the final series, and a historic treble with your club… how do you sum up this incredible season?

Indeed, with the little hindsight I have on this beautiful season, I can affirm that it has a little magical and memorable taste. We started it a bit like children by talking about this somewhat crazy dream of making a treble. We knew what we were capable of doing, both good and bad, but we all had the same desire: to go for it. I think we managed to give ourselves the means individually but above all COLLECTIVELY, whether it was the players but also all the actors who accompanied us and notably our 2 coaches Alexandre and Rémi. The framework that the club gave us allowed us to work correctly in advance of the season and throughout it. Then, everything unfolded almost without a hitch, match after match the team gained in strength until our first major deadline: the France Challenge, then there was the European Cup and finally the French Championship final.

BTVF: When you win everything, from the championship to the European Cup, what makes you the proudest, both in terms of personal performance and collective effort?

What makes me the proudest today (and I can speak on behalf of many on this I think ahah) is that we went to win a European Cup with a 100% French and 100% Comanches roster! That gave an extra flavor to the victory!

BTVF: You come out as MVP of the final, what was the spark that day? Did you feel from the start that it was your match?

I am very honored to have been elected MVP of this final. I think, however, that it remains a collective effort, whether at bat where my teammates knew how to reach base to allow me to drive them in or in defense with a great performance by the pitchers who allowed me to work well behind the plate.

BTVF: After an impressive season last year, how did you find the motivation to start all over again… and do even better!

To be completely honest, I had a bit of apprehension before starting this 2025 season. It’s true that 2024 was spectacular and ended on a very high note, so we had to be up to the task for this new season. What particularly motivated me was, on the one hand, to go and take our revenge in the France Challenge but also to perform at the European level in the European Cup! In fact, the European Cup is such an enriching experience on a human and sporting level that we have to be ready to enjoy it fully and also because it’s important to respect the time and resources that the club invests so that we can live it!

A season is long and yet the performances have followed one another, was there a complicated moment to manage, a turning point in the season where you had to grit your teeth?

Honestly no. The beauty with this team is that everyone has always known how to contribute their part whenever it was needed. For example, we have players who evolve in universities in the United States who cannot be present at certain parts of the season. And well, it hasn’t been a problem since their place has been quickly and well filled! This allows us to train young players and give playing time to those who have a little less when they are there.

If you had to sum up your team in one word or value, what would it be? And why?

In one word, the Comanches for me is: harmony. We have players with such different backgrounds but who blend together so well. We have common values: kindness, commitment, confidence, and pleasure on the field, and I think that’s a bit the magic recipe of our team.

You also win the European Cup! Do you feel that the club has taken a step forward?

Yes, absolutely, the club has given us the means that allowed us to allow ourselves the ambition of wanting to win this cup. We were lucky to have with us, in addition to our 2 beloved coaches: 1 coach to help with performance, 1 pitching coach, but also 2 super volunteers who allowed us to eat well for 1 week and 1 golden supporter.

Let’s not forget the access to the European TOP 6 with the French team, do you also have the feeling that the team has reached a new level?

Personally, I think the French team progresses every year and that the Top 6 is the reflection of a long work! PS: I hope France doesn’t stop there!!

After such a treble, one might wonder what the next challenge could be?

The next challenge is to aim for a performance with a French team in a European Cup “A” this time. It’s a beautiful goal, it will motivate us and we’ll see where we stand next to the best players in Europe or even the world.

If you had to choose a strong moment from this season, the one that still gives you chills, which one would it be?

This question is very difficult, there have been a few! I think that if there was one I would like to relive today it would be the final of the France Challenge. Between the atmosphere of the stadium with the spectators, the stakes of taking our revenge but also the pressure of the first match broadcast live on TV… wow it was really incredible and full of emotions!

Sébastien Dondé

Photo credits: Facebook page of the Comanches club