After the second day of the Challenge de France, the Grenoble Grizzlys secured their spot in the final with four wins out of five. While Pessac’s opening match victory didn’t last, the Grizzlys’ strong form continued.
On the other side, the favorites, the Pharaonnes, had to battle hard in the morning of the final and eliminate the Rabbits, another favorite.
Based on these repeated surprises, the Grizzlys prevailed against the Pharaonnes in the Challenge final. A strong start with two innings scoring four points each, both teams entered the fifth inning with an 8-point gap. The suspense picked up again as the Pharaonnes scored five runs with two outs in an inning.
It was through powerful hits and strong batting that the Grenoble team emerged victorious, becoming the 2022 Challenge de France champions. They won the final 14-7.
Vincent COSTES, former President and current coach of the Grizzlys, shares his thoughts:
A beautiful collective effort, with a united and supportive team. After a strong first day and the initial shock caused by Pessac, who unexpectedly challenged the Comanches, we started to believe that anything was possible. Then it was our turn; we won match after match, and by the end of the first day, the idea of winning the Challenge had taken root in every player’s mind.
We knew we had strong and deep pitching, but we needed to improve our offense, and that’s exactly what happened. Hit after hit, our confidence grew. I’m thinking of Capucine MEISS, the youngest player on our team, who has been playing for just a year and delivered several clutch hits. Of course, I’m also thinking of my daughter, Clélia COSTES, who was uncertain about the final but held her ground and even won the MVP title for the competition. The entire team’s mindset merged towards the idea that we could win. It’s truly been an incredible journey.
Clélia Costes, MVP of the 2022 Challenge
« Tomorrow, we’ll focus on the championship to finish strong. Currently, we’re fourth, and we’ll keep this momentum going. As for Europe next year, we have time to prepare. »
Interview by Didier CANNIOUX
Photo credit: Glenn Gervot
Grizzlys website: here
