The three days of pool play at the European Baseball5 Championship concluded on Thursday evening. France topped their pool, finishing first with a perfect 6-0 record. The knockout stages begin today, with the top three teams from each pool facing off. The winners will advance to the finals.
In a stunning venue with two fields and facilities worthy of France’s INSEP, the competition is running smoothly under the Lithuanian federation’s leadership. Ludovic Mellier, our French representative heading the technical commission, oversees the competition’s legal organization. (Editor’s note: He even drafted the regulations.) Just like the last world competition, scoring has evolved. The number of hits is now recorded based on the number of at-bats, and the same goes for runs scored. This will allow us to rank players at the end of the competition and award six prizes to the top players, hitters, and scorers, both men and women.
Two coaches: Lachène Benhamida and Stéphen Lesfargues
Clearly, France’s influence is evident in both the organization (the only team with a trainer) and their superior playing strategy compared to other European nations. For instance, Finland only formed their first team just one month ago!
The French strategic plans are far more advanced. French players communicate with signals, make sacrifices to advance or score runs, and capitalize on defensive lapses. They hit hard and accurately. On defense, the women excel at first and second base. The defenders’ throws are swift enough to retire the batter, allowing the catcher to secure the ball. Their focus and cohesion are evident. They’re in position, know the count, and constantly high-five each other. Whenever a timeout is called, they huddle up in the middle of the field.
Let’s hear from Omar Diodène, the captain of the French team.
« We’re truly united, not just on the field but also on the plane and in the hotel. There are no injuries, and the coaches and trainer are taking excellent care of us. They speak to us as a group and individually—it’s a joy to be together, especially with our two U18 women joining the team.
On the competitive side, we’re proud of our results—over 120 runs scored and fewer than ten conceded. The coaches always find the winning strategies. Now we’re entering the toughest part of the competition. We’re playing under pressure, and we’ve been able to rotate our lineup, so we still have plenty of energy to burn. Next up, we face the top team from Pool B, Lithuania, playing at home in front of a larger crowd. They’ve improved in both skill and strength throughout the tournament. Then it’s Belgium and Italy. Tomorrow’s goal is to qualify for the final. After that, we’ll see, because securing a spot in the final qualifies us for next year’s World Cup in Hong Kong. »
