Between the Softball Super League and the Open de France de Baseball, French athletes have been busy. Let’s review the second matchday of the Softball Championship held on April 2nd and look ahead to the third matchday on April 16th.
Cavigal hosted the Comanches, and the scores were decisive in favor of the Raphaeloises, despite a strong start by the Nice side, who scored 3 runs in the first two innings. Once they found their rhythm, the Comanches took the lead with 5 runs and added 8 more to secure a 13-5 victory in 5 innings.
In the second match, young Emma Flayol, U18, couldn’t contain the Comanches’ offense. They hit 10 hits and scored 10 runs in 4 innings.
Notably, two U18 players from Nice scored the team’s 2 runs after hitting twice in the first inning, but it wasn’t enough to secure a win. Final score: 10-2 under the mercy rule.
In Clapiers, the southern side hosted the Parisian team BCF. These matches didn’t determine much as they split the results: 8-1 for the Rabbits in the first match in 6 innings (mercy rule) and 9-5 for the BCF in the second match in 7 innings. The southern side’s offense stepped up behind pitcher Eidy Tortolero, with 9 hits, including an inside-the-park home run by Cathy Beauchef in the third inning.
In the second match, the third inning proved costly for Clapiers-Jacou. The Parisian side capitalized on every opportunity, scoring 9 runs. Despite changes and 3 runs scored late in the game, the southern side couldn’t close the gap. A solid performance by the BCF players, who secured their first win of the season, 9-5.
Further north, the Grizzlys traveled to the Pharaonnes, the reigning French champions. The first match was thrilling, ending in the 7th inning with a score of 8-7 for Grenoble. There were powerful hits throughout, with 23 hits, including 4 doubles, 5 triples, and a home run by U18 player Lisa Papouin. The Pharaonnes, who trailed the entire match, never gave up until the final inning of this exciting game.
Building on their momentum, the Évry Courcouronnes players started the second match strong with 4 runs and maintained their lead to secure a 21-1 victory in 4 innings. The three pitchers who took the mound for Grenoble couldn’t stop the 18 hits, including 2 home runs by Nahya Nguyen. The first high-scoring game of the season.
After these matches, the Grizzlys, Comanches, and Pharaonnes lead with 3 wins and 1 loss. The Rabbits are in 4th place with 2 wins and 2 losses.
This weekend, we should have a clearer picture of the standings, especially with matches where the top three teams host the bottom three.
Raina Hunter
