Pressure in the Semifinals for the Favorites

The rivalry between the Pharaonnes d’Évry and the Panthères de Pessac lived up to all expectations. After three games, the Île-de-France team clinched their final berth by winning the series two games to one. Between standout pitching performances, tightly contested matches, and pivotal moments, this series showcased the best of elite softball. Rosalie Coste, who had been injured against Grenoble, held her own on the Évry side, though she played only as an outfielder this time around.

Undefeated throughout the regular season, the Comanches entered their semifinal in a very different context than the one that had seen them dominate the championship. Between injuries (Prapeng De Ridder), departures abroad (Lisa Vieira with a .390 OPS, Sofia Hammacott who started 14 of the 15 games she played, and Elise Buvat who pitched 24 innings this season), and absences (Mélissa Mayeux, Enora Simon who threw 10 perfect innings), Saint Raphaël fielded a heavily reshuffled lineup, especially in the circle. And the Wildcats played their hearts out, coming so close to an incredible upset! Despite these challenges, the reigning double champions found the resources to eliminate the Wildcats of Colombes in two games and secure another spot in the final.

Pharaonnes vs Panthères: Évry Holds On in a Thriller Against Pessac

Game 1: Évry 6-3 Pessac

In the first game, Évry-Courcouronnes prevailed thanks to an outstanding performance from their pitcher, Eidy Carolina Tortolero Monagas. The Venezuelan dominated for seven innings, allowing just seven hits and three runs—only one earned. She also dominated the Pessac lineup with 15 strikeouts and only two walks. After allowing two runs in the third inning, she locked down the rest of the game, letting her team take control.

Offensively, the Pharaonnes broke the game open in the fifth inning with a four-run burst. Ambre Brouard led off with a single. Lisa Papoin reached base on a defensive error, and Rosalie Coste drove in a run with a sacrifice bunt. Emma Liminier followed with a productive single, and Sirena Salazar capped the rally with a one-run hit. Océane Lecourt Milliet also contributed with a sacrifice bunt.

Despite Louise Le Chenadec’s strong pitching—allowing just eight hits in six innings—the three defensive errors by Pessac proved costly. But while the Pharaonnes eventually took control, the Panthères held their own against the favorites for much of the game. Down 1-0, they even took the lead in the third inning thanks to speed plays by Louise Le Chenadec, Isaure Gourgue, and Marion Travers. Camille Riera and Amandine Mètreau each drove in runs or contributed directly to the sequence that put the Girondines in position to tie. Though they lost, Pessac finished the game with seven hits against one of the best pitchers in the league.

Game 1 MVP: Eidy Carolina Tortolero Monagas. With 15 strikeouts in seven innings and just one earned run, she completely turned the game around after Pessac’s comeback in the third inning.

Game 2: Évry 1-2 Pessac

The Pharaonnes struck first in the opening inning. Ambre Brouard led off with a single and scored on Rosalie Coste’s hit. Pitcher Emma Liminier then steadied the ship with six strong innings, limiting Pessac to two hits and striking out seven batters.

But Louise Le Chenadec shut down the Évry offense. The Pessac ace pitched a complete game, allowing just three hits, one run, no walks, and striking out eight. Even with only two hits, the Pessac attack showed remarkable efficiency. The Panthères capitalized on defensive mistakes—particularly through Marion Travers’ aggressive baserunning—to score the two runs that won the game. In a match where every detail mattered, they maximized every opportunity.

Though they lost, Évry showed resilience that would prove crucial in the deciding game. Emma Liminier, who entered the circle in the first inning for Évry, was solid, allowing just two hits in six innings and striking out seven.

Game 2 MVP: Louise Le Chenadec. Seven complete innings, three hits allowed, no walks, and eight strikeouts—a dominant performance that let the Panthères snatch a hard-fought win.

Game 3: Évry 6-2 Pessac

After three innings of back-and-forth play, Évry built their lead in the fourth. Océane Lecourt Milliet led off with a triple. Elsa Lepinay followed with a two-run single, and Ambre Brouard added a productive triple to make it 3-0. One inning later, Sirena Salazar extended the lead with a double.

The Panthères refused to go quietly. Down 4-0, they finally found their groove in the sixth inning with hits from Louise Le Chenadec, Isaure Gourgue, Marion Travers, and Camille Riera. A five-hit sequence cut the deficit to two runs and created real suspense.

But the Pharaonnes answered immediately. Ambre Brouard sealed the game with a spectacular two-run inside-the-park home run in the sixth inning, pushing the score to 6-2. Even in defeat, the Girondines confirmed their offensive firepower that had kept them in the series.

On the mound, Eidy Carolina Tortolero Monagas set the tone again with four scoreless, hitless innings and five strikeouts. Emma Liminier took over for the final three innings, securing the win with four more strikeouts. Together, the two pitchers limited Pessac to five hits.

Game 3 MVP: Ambre Brouard. She drove in three runs with a triple and a dramatic inside-the-park home run in the sixth inning. Her offensive impact was decisive in Évry’s qualification.

The Comanches Stumble, Then Regain Their Footing

The first game will go down as one of the most spectacular of the season. In the opening inning, the Wildcats capitalized on an unusual string of Varois defensive errors to score seven runs and rattle the favorites. Though the Comanches absorbed the blow, they didn’t break. Led by an attack as feared as ever, they gradually clawed their way back.

The Saint Raphaël offense produced 15 hits and scored in six of seven innings. Inès Haudiquer had a standout game with three hits in three at-bats, a double, a triple, four RBIs, and three runs scored. Marjorie Brunel added two hits, three RBIs, and two runs, while Chiara Enrione-Thorrand hit two doubles and drove in three more.

While the Varois’ incredible comeback steals the spotlight, the Wildcats’ offensive performance deserves recognition too. Against a team that had gone unbeaten all season, the Colombians posted 10 hits and 16 runs. Manon Délégué drove in three runs with a first-inning triple, while Christina Grace Poley, Garance Viguier, and Jenny Durassier fueled an attack that constantly pressured the Comanches’ defense.

In the final inning, the game tipped decisively—with the Wildcats leading 16-11! After Margaux Dubrulle’s hit, the top of the Comanches’ lineup came alive. Inès Haudiquer reignited hope, Chiara Enrione-Thorrand kept the comeback going, and 16-year-old Agathe Sagory stepped up in the most critical moment of the weekend. Her game-changing double tied the score before a defensive error gave the Comanches the winning run.

On the mound, Farah Saidi finally secured the win after four relief innings. The 17-16 final score perfectly captured the madness of a game that nearly slipped away from the defending champions. The Colombians can look back with regret—they had a golden opportunity to shake the titleholders. They came within two outs of pulling it off.

Game 1 MVP: Agathe Sagory. While Inès Haudiquer’s offensive stats were the most impressive, the standout goes to the promising Agathe Sagory. With two hits, an RBI, and a key role in the late rally, the young player delivered the game’s most important hit. Her double in the final inning changed the match’s outcome—and likely the series.

Game 2: Saint-Raphaël 9-2 Colombes

The next day, the Wildcats tried to keep the suspense alive, but the Comanches quickly regained control. Colombes stayed in the game early before Saint Raphaël gradually pulled away.

The Raphaëlois attack was far more opportunistic. The Comanches posted 10 hits and built their lead with a four-run third inning and a three-run fourth. Pauline Prade and Youna Pean kept the pressure on with aggressive baserunning. Inès Haudiquer, once again, drove in two runs, while Marjorie Brunel and Pauline Prade also contributed offensively.

The Wildcats tried to rally and cut the lead in the third inning. But at that critical moment, Farah Saidi’s entrance changed the game’s momentum. After Alice Chanal pitched 2.2 innings, the Comanches’ reliever locked down the Colombians. In 2.1 innings, she allowed no runs and limited the Wildcats to three hits. Meanwhile, Saint Raphaël’s offense kept piling up runs to clinch the qualification.

Yet the Wildcats never stopped fighting, despite the emotional toll of the heartbreaking loss the day before. The Colombians still posted seven hits and kept runners on base regularly. Shahineze Souici, Marie Ten Eyck, and Manon Délégué kept the attack alive, but missed opportunities kept them from fully closing the gap. Beyond the score, this second game confirmed a key observation from the semifinal: the Wildcats showed strong offensive skills with seven hits, but their lack of baserunning aggression and inability to capitalize on chances kept them from seriously threatening the champions.

Game 2 MVP: Farah Saidi. Entering in relief at a moment when the Wildcats could still believe in a comeback, she immediately shut the door.

Eidy Carolina Tortolero Monagas cemented her status as Évry’s pitching leader with two dominant outings, totaling 11 innings and 20 strikeouts across the games she won. Emma Liminier also played a crucial role, both on the mound and at the plate. The duo of aces will need to deliver more heroics if the Pharaonnes want to dethrone the Comanches and reclaim their crown.

The semifinal between the Varois and the Hauts-de-Seine teams confirmed two realities. Despite the many absences mentioned before the weekend, the Comanches still have offensive depth capable of turning any game. But the series also exposed some unexpected vulnerabilities, particularly in pitching and defense. The Wildcats were the first to really exploit those weaknesses and came dangerously close to an upset in the first game. The Comanches remain unbeaten and advance to the final, but this series showed they’re no longer untouchable… Will the Pharaonnes take advantage?

Sébastien Dondé and local correspondent.

Photo credits: RS of the clubs. Results design: Lucas Arrighi.