France, Power 4!

The French U22 softball team flew to the Czech Republic, in Ostrava, to compete in the European Championship.

Among the 20 nations present, France found itself in Pool X, alongside the Dutch powerhouse, Israel, Poland, and Ukraine.

A dense week of competition with a high level. BaseballTV retraces the superb journey of our Bleuettes.

Pool Stage

France – Israel: 7-5

The first three innings were entirely in Israel’s favor: in the third, Rebecca Balke hit a powerful double that pushed two runners home, while a series of walks and singles allowed the Israelis to take the lead. In the fourth inning, Zoe Levine added a two-RBI double, widening the gap and bringing the score to 4–0. At that moment, France was backed against the wall.

The French reaction came in the fifth inning. Jade Aubard Cojan opened the way with a single, followed by a walk from Sofia Hammacott. Ambre Brouard hit a double that brought in a run and put pressure on the Israeli defense. Lisa Anaïs Papoin then executed a sacrifice bunt, bringing in an additional run. An illegal pitch even offered a third free run. In one inning, France came back to 4–3 and completely turned the game around.

The sixth inning was the turning point of the match. The French chained hits: Chiara Enrione-Thorrand, Capucine Meiss, and Aubard Cojan found the gaps, while Emma Flayol drew a walk that loaded the bases. Ambre Brouard hit a second two-RBI double. Israel tried to react at the end of the sixth but the French relief, led by Elise Buvat, locked down the end of the game.

On the pitching side, Buvat threw 4 solid innings with 6 hits, 3 runs, 1 walk, and 5 strikeouts, containing Israel despite the pressure. Flayol handled the relief over 3 innings with 3 hits, 2 runs, 5 walks, and 2 strikeouts. Together, they totaled 7 Ks and stabilized the game to secure the victory for the Bleuettes.

MVP of the match: Ambre Brouard. With two doubles and three RBIs, she was the engine of France’s comeback.

Ukraine – France: 0-7

France showed presence on base right from the start of the game: Lisa Anaïs Papoin hit a single, Ambre Brouard reached first base, but the runs weren’t coming in yet. In the second inning, Capucine Meiss hit a single, Lisa Carmen Vieira reached base, and Océane Lecourt Milliet drew a walk, but the Ukrainian defense held firm. In the third, Papoin hit another single, and Lila D’Hauteville advanced on a sacrifice bunt, but France remained silent on the scoreboard.

Everything changed in the fifth inning. Ambre Brouard opened the sequence with a triple, pushing Océane Lecourt Milliet home. In quick succession, Lecourt Milliet hit a single to bring in Jade Aubard Cojan. She had just previously hit a double, allowing Capucine Meiss and Lisa Carmen Vieira to score.

The pressure didn’t let up: Meiss added a single RBI, Chiara Enrione-Thorrand hit a triple to center field to bring in Emma Flayol, and D’Hauteville reached base on a defensive error, allowing Brouard to score an additional run.

Ukraine tried to react, but the French defense remained flawless. The Ukrainian batters were contained by a series of clean outs, including several strikeouts and well-executed defensive plays.

On the mound, Emma Flayol dominated. In five innings pitched, she allowed just one hit, gave up no runs, no walks, and dominated the opposing batters with 7 strikeouts.

MVP of the match: Emma Flayol. She completely neutralized the Ukrainian offense, which never managed to establish the slightest threat.

Poland – France: 1-4

In the first inning, Lisa Anaïs Papoin drew a walk and stole second base, Ambre Brouard put the ball in play, but the runs weren’t coming in yet. Poland, on the other hand, was immediately silenced by Elise Buvat, who retired the first three batters without difficulty.

In the second, the Bleuettes chained together good offensive sequences: Chiara Enrione-Thorrand hit a single, Capucine Meiss doubled to left field, then Lisa Carmen Vieira pushed a run home on a ground ball. Diane Simon added a powerful double, and Sofia Hammacott placed a bunt that put more pressure on the Polish defense. Finally, Ambre Brouard, very inspired, hit a two-RBI single that scored Simon and Hammacott. In one inning, France scored 3 runs and took control of the game.

Poland tried to react in the fourth inning: Ella Romo hit a single that allowed Marianna Nieśmiałek to score, reducing the deficit to 3–1. But Buvat remained unfazed.

In the fifth inning, France regained some breathing room. Papoin hit a single, took advantage of a defensive error to advance, then Emma Flayol hit along the right-field line to bring her home. This additional run brought the score to 4–1, and France was no longer threatened.

The final innings were a defensive masterclass. Buvat dominated completely: strikeouts, weak balls, no space left. Her performance was a demonstration: 7 innings pitched, only 3 hits allowed, 1 earned run, 7 strikeouts, 106 pitches with 66 strikes.

The MVP of the match: Ambre Brouard, with a two-RBI single in the second inning..

Austria – France: 7-8

Right from the start, France struck hard: Chiara Enrione-Thorrand signed a two-RBI single that brought in Lisa Anaïs Papoin and Emma Flayol, giving the Bleuettes an immediate advantage. But Austria responded in the next inning and came back to 2–1.

In the third, Austria executed a double and an aggressive play on the bases allowed them to retake the lead, 3–2. France, on the other hand, went through an offensive dry spell, unable to produce in the second and third innings. In the fourth, everything changed: the French unleashed a monstrous inning of 5 runs. Ambre Brouard hit a two-RBI double, Océane Lecourt Milliet placed a bunt that caused an error and brought in a run, Lisa Carmen Vieira added a single, and Capucine Meiss reached base on another error. In a few minutes, France completely turned the game around and led 7–3.

But Austria refused to give up: at the end of the fourth, they scored three runs. The score tightened to 7–6.

On defense, Elise Buvat, who entered in relief in the fourth inning, delivered a crucial performance: 5 innings, 5 hits, 4 runs, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts.

MVP of the match: once again Ambre Brouard, thanks to her two-RBI double in a decisive inning.

Super Round

Netherlands – France: 15-1

The Bleuettes had an extremely difficult match against the Netherlands, losing heavily 15–1 in five innings. The first inning set the tone: Sietske Drijvers hit a single that brought in Lizzy Kwakernaak, and the Netherlands immediately took the lead. The Bleuettes couldn’t respond, chaining together three quick outs. In the second inning, the Dutch continued to hit hard: Millie de Roy van Zuijdewijin and Joy Cashoek chained hits, but the French defense limited the damage.

After an inning without a run, the fourth was a real hammer blow. The Netherlands scored 5 runs, defensive errors by France worsened the situation, and the gap widened irreparably.

The fifth inning was the most painful: the Dutch scored 9 runs, chaining doubles, singles, walks, and taking advantage of several wild pitches. Joy Cashoek hit a two-RBI home run, Reganied Franka added a two-RBI double, and the Dutch offense rolled without opposition. France finally managed to score a run thanks to a single by Jade Aubard Cojan, who pushed Capucine Meiss home, but it wasn’t enough to avoid the mercy rule defeat.

MVP of the match: Jade Aubard Cojan. She signed the only RBI of the match and remained one of the few to find a flaw in the Dutch defense.

France – Czech Republic: 0-15

In the first inning, Aneta Molentová hit a single, then a defensive error allowed Kristýna Horáčková to reach base and score Molentová. France tried to respond with a single by Ambre Brouard, which failed to convert.

The second inning was a first setback. Molentová hit a two-RBI double, Lya Schneider added a single RBI, and the Czechs chained together base hits. The Bleuettes found no solution.

In the third, the Czechs chained hits, pushing several runs home. The French defense cracked, and the Czech Republic scored 5 runs in that single inning. The entry of Elise Buvat in relief slightly stabilized the situation, but the gap was already unreachable.

In the fourth inning, the Czechs continued to hit: Beránková and Blažková reached base, taking advantage of another defensive error. The Bleuettes, on the other hand, couldn’t react.

France scored no runs in the game, despite a few flashes: a double by Ambre Brouard, a single by Chiara Enrione-Thorrand, and a few runners in scoring position. But the Czech Republic controlled the game completely, both in pitching and defense.

On the mound, Emma Flayol had a very difficult outing: 3 innings, 4 hits, 5 runs, 3 walks, 2 strikeouts. Elise Buvat, who entered in relief, allowed 6 hits and 5 runs in 0.2 innings, in a context where the Czech attack hit everywhere and the French defense multiplied errors.

MVP of the match: Ambre Brouard. She signed the only extra-base hit for France, a powerful double that could have launched an offensive opportunity.

Spain – France: 2-3

France struck first: Ambre Brouard clobbered a powerful double, then Emma Flayol produced a sacrifice fly that allowed Brouard to score. The Bleuettes led 1–0 and immediately put pressure on.

In the second inning, France widened the gap, leading 2–0, thanks to aggressive play and excellent reading of situations.

Spain tried to react, but Elise Buvat, the starter of the day, delivered a flawless start: 2.2 innings, 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts. She neutralized the Spanish offense and gave France a solid defensive foundation. In the third inning, Lisa Carmen Vieira hit a single that brought in Lila D’Hauteville, bringing the score to 3–0.

Spain came back into the game in the fifth inning. Leire Taroncher hit a triple that brought in Leyre Echeverria, then Natalia López pushed a second run home. The score tightened: 3–2.

That’s when Emma Flayol, who entered in relief, played a decisive role. Despite 4 walks, she allowed only 2 hits in 4.1 innings, gave up just 1 earned run, and above all retired the Spanish batters in the hottest moments with a performance of coolness.

In the offense, France didn’t score after the third inning, but the defense held firm. In the seventh, Flayol retired the last three Spanish batters, sealing a hard-fought victory.

MVP of the match: Emma Flayol. She delivered a high-intensity relief, closed the game in the critical moments, and secured an essential victory.

France – Italy: 0-3

Right from the first inning, France put runners on base thanks to Chiara Enrione-Thorrand and Capucine Meiss, but the Italians closed the door and prevented any opening. The Bleuettes multiplied contacts but without finding the gaps, while the Italian defense remained flawless.

On the mound, Elise Buvat delivered a solid performance despite constant pressure. She pitched 6 innings, allowed only 5 hits, 3 runs including just 1 earned, with 3 walks and 2 strikeouts. She contained Italy for three innings. But in the fourth, Italy found the flaw: Alessandra Biffi hit a single RBI, then a defensive error allowed Alida Campioni to score. The Italians took the lead 2–0.

France tried to react, but the offense remained blocked. Jade Aubard Cojan, Lisa Carmen Vieira, Emma Flayol, Sofia Hammacott, and Lila D’Hauteville put balls in play, but the Italian defense didn’t let anything pass. The Bleuettes couldn’t convert their few runners in scoring position.

In the sixth inning, Italy widened the gap: Marianna Zumerle hit a powerful double, then Giulia Calzolari placed a perfect bunt that brought in an additional run. At 3–0, France had no margin. At the end of the seventh, the Bleuettes attempted a last surge: D’Hauteville hit a single, Hermine Boudousq was hit by a pitch, but Enrione-Thorrand was retired, sealing the defeat.

MVP of the match: Lila D’Hauteville. She signed two hits, including an important single in the seventh inning.

The Little Final

France – Netherlands: 0-7

The Dutch immediately put pressure on with runners on base, but the French defense held firm. The French offense, on the other hand, struggled to get going: Flayol, Papoin, and Brouard were retired quickly.

The second inning marked the first turning point. The Netherlands brought in four runners; in the third, the Dutch continued to press to lead 6–0. France, on the other hand, remained blocked.

The fourth inning sealed the fate of the match. Tellekamp hit a triple, then Drijvers sent a ball straight to center for a solo home run. At 7–0, the Dutch completely controlled the game.

In the fifth inning, the Bleuettes showed some resistance, but the Dutch offense was too strong, the defense too clean, and France couldn’t create the slightest opening.

On the mound, France alternated between Elise Buvat (2.1 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO) and Emma Flayol (1.2 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO). Both pitchers faced a Dutch offense in full swing, hitting hard and often, and taking advantage of every space left.

MVP of the match: Lila D’Hauteville. She remained the only one to bring offensive power, putting several balls in play, finding the gaps, and bringing energy in a locked game.

At the end of this intense week, the French team left the tournament with a fourth place that reflects both their potential and their margin for improvement. The French showed character, solidarity, the ability to turn around games and hold under pressure, but also the limits of a group still tender against more experienced nations.

Moreover, the substitutes proved to be real impact players at the plate with an OPS of .991. Enough to make us want to see them shake up the established lineup for positive emulation.

Between victories snatched with heart (Spain, Austria) and heavy defeats (including 3 on mercy rules) but rich in lessons against European powerhouses (Netherlands, Czech Republic, Italy), which reveal a real gap to bridge to challenge them, our Bleuettes leave with a clearer identity (a team capable of scoring at the slightest opportunity), pitching certainties (the Buvat-Flayol duo was very effective), offensive leaders of the Senior team who played their role (Enrione-Thorrand, Brouard, and Meiss), and a generation that only asks to mature (an average age of just 18.8 years!). We can’t wait to see that!

However, for the future, one axis needs to be worked on: pitching. The Buvat-Flayol duo pitched 98.1% of the innings, a dependence that can be costly in case of a hiccup from one of the two aces.

Very prominent this week, Ambre Brouard kindly accepted to answer a few questions, before leaving for Italy to compete in the Mediterranean Games of Baseball5. Thank you to her.

Interview with Ambre Brouard

BTVF: What feeling dominates at the end of this week, between pride and disappointment?

The first sensation I feel is pride, because we finished in the final four and it was a superb collective performance. And a bit of disappointment, of course, to have lost the little final. But behind that, there is still a very beautiful journey!

BTVF: What was, for you, the most memorable match of the tournament for France, and why?

For me, the most memorable match was against Israel. A first match that we won and that really got us into the competition. I have another one, against Spain, which gave access to the little final.

BTVF: How would you describe the state of mind of the group throughout the competition, between victories snatched and difficult defeats?

There was a good state of mind within the group. Everyone had the determination to win but also to have fun, not to overcomplicate things but on the contrary, to play softball as we know how.

BTVF: You faced very different teams in their style of play. What challenged you the most in this diversity of opponents?

What challenged me the most was facing the big nations, facing pitchers who pitch with several effects. It was a real challenge because it’s not a pitching speed that you face in France. In fact, you just want to smash the ball in two!

BTVF: You were one of the offensive leaders of the team. How do you work to stay performant throughout a tournament as dense as this one?

To stay performant throughout a competition, I don’t overthink things at the plate. When I arrive in the batter’s box, I tell myself: “I need to smash the ball,” and I go for it, without thinking.

BTVF: No time to catch your breath, you’re heading to Taranto in Italy for the Mediterranean Games of Baseball5, which start on July 29th. Is there an objective set by the team for a successful competition? Do you approach a Baseball5 competition differently from a softball one?

The objective of the Mediterranean Games is of course to finish at the top of the podium. I approach a B5 competition in the same way as a softball competition. For me, it doesn’t change anything at all.

Sébastien Dondé.

Photo credits: WBSC Europe and FFBS social networks.