European women’s softball saw a mixed week for French clubs competing in continental tournaments. While the Comanches de Saint-Raphaël dominated the European Cup in Enschede, the Pharaonnes d’Évry-Courcouronnes, hosts of the Winners Cup A, had a tough campaign on home soil. A match-by-match look at the journeys of these two teams.
The Comanches de Saint-Raphaël: A Masterful Conquest
Reigning French champions, the Comanches headed to the Netherlands aiming to confirm their status. Mission accomplished: they return with a second European title, ten years after their first triumph in 2015. Their journey stood out with a prolific offense and a rigorous defense.
From the get-go, the Varoises set the pace. They defeated the Dutch Tigers de Tex Town 11-4, then rolled over the Barracudas de Zurich (16-3) in just four innings. In between, their only loss came against the Panthers de Wrocław (2-10), where the Poles took control.
Next, the Comanches handed the Tigers de Tex Town a 17-5 drubbing, reigniting their momentum. The following day, they avenged their loss to Wrocław in a tight game (2-0), then dominated Zurich again (8-1) to secure first place in their group.
In the final, they faced the Barracudas once more and confirmed their superiority with a 5-1 victory. This near-perfect run (6 wins in 7 games) was fueled by standout individual performances, particularly from pitchers Clélia Costes and Élise Buvat, both crucial in key moments.
The Pharaonnes d’Évry-Courcouronnes: A Week of Learning
As hosts of the Winners Cup A, the Pharaonnes faced a strong field at home. Despite a spirited effort, they failed to turn their hard work into wins.
The tournament began with a 0-5 loss to Saronno, followed by a tight game against the Metrostars de Vienne (0-3 defeat). Things got tougher with a heavy loss to the Capitals de Bonn (0-10), then a reversal against the Fenix de Valence (5-10), despite an offensive rally. Matches against Roef! (0-7) and the Belgian Lions de Beveren (1-11) confirmed their struggles. Against the SaBaT de Prague, the defeat was narrow (3-4), and in the consolation match, the Pharaonnes fell to the Metrostars 2-1.
Two Paths, One Horizon
The contrast between the two teams’ journeys is stark. The Comanches confirmed their status as Europe’s top dogs, backed by an effective offense and a well-oiled pitching rotation. The Pharaonnes, despite home-field advantage, couldn’t crack the code but gained valuable experience against Europe’s elite. In a constantly evolving European softball landscape, these two paths highlight the challenges and ambitions of French softball on the international stage.
Despite a busy end to the season, the clubs kindly answered a few questions to reflect on their respective campaigns. Thanks to them!
The Comanches de Saint-Raphaël
BTVF: How do you assess your team’s performance?
The women’s team’s performance during the competition was remarkable. It followed a long preparation since October and a championship that allowed us to arrive in top form. We are very satisfied with the final outcome and will now need to maintain this momentum.
BTVF: Your team scored around 60 runs in the tournament. What made your offense so prolific?
Offensive discipline and the ability to build
