The Saint-Raphaël softball team has become the French champions for the fourteenth time in their history! With a dominant performance throughout the season, the Comanches left their mark on the championship, claiming the scalps of the Pharaonnes in the final.

An Exceptional Season

With 18 wins and only two losses, the Varoises left their opponents with mere crumbs in this championship. The Comanches showcased solid defense: several games ended with few or no errors, such as the 9-0 win against the Panthers and the 7-0 shutout against the Pharaonnes. The offense was equally impressive, often scoring a high number of runs with scores like 19-4 against the Grizzlies and 17-2 against the Panthers. This ability to rack up points was a key factor in their success.

On the pitching front, Prapeng De Ridder had a perfect and impressive season: she started 11 games with a record of 11 wins and no losses. Her consistent performances were crucial for the team, with games like the 7-0 shutout against the Pharaonnes and the 17-2 win against the Panthers. Farah Saidi also had a great season with 4 wins and only 1 loss. She was a key pitcher, with important victories like the 19-4 win against the Grizzlies and the 16-1 win against the Cavigal. Her only loss came in a close game against the Panthers (5-6). Other players who significantly contributed to the Comanches’ dominance this year were Inès Haudiquer and Pauline Prade. Ines was very effective with an impressive batting average of .616 and a slugging percentage of .849. Pauline Prade, meanwhile, stood out with a high number of runs scored (47). Lena Sellam also had a remarkable season with a batting average of .527, a slugging percentage of .855, and an on-base percentage of .618. The team also showed excellent base-stealing ability, with a success rate of 92.6% (50-54). Inès Haudiquer stole every base she attempted (9 for 9), and Laura Prade stole 24 out of 26 attempts. Defensively, the team had a fielding percentage of .934, higher than their opponents’ (.879).

A Hard-Fought Final Series

As in 2022, the final series pitted the Pharaonnes of Evry-Courcouronnes against the Comanches of Saint-Raphaël. In the first game, the Comanches scorched their opponents with a decisive 8-2 victory, thanks to a huge second inning and a solid performance by Ines Haudiquer and Chiara Luna Enrione-Thorrand. But the Pharaonnes fought back, winning the second game 5-4 in extra innings. They even took the lead by winning the third game 4-2. However, the final matchday saw the Comanches win both games. The first was won 6-5 in extra innings. Ines Haudiquer was the standout player with a perfect batting average of 1.000 for that game. Pauline Prade also had an excellent performance with 2 hits and 2 RBIs, plus 2 walks. Farah Saidi showed great patience at the plate with 3 walks. The second game was won 3-0. Ines Haudiquer was named MVP of the final, thanks to her exceptional performances throughout the series.

It was only natural to pay tribute to the superb season of Inès Haudiquer, who kindly granted us an interview.

BTVF: What were the essential qualities that allowed the team to make the difference this season?

I would say the team spirit above all. We spent a lot of time together throughout the season with weekend training sessions. At first, it was mainly to bond and build the team’s foundation. Evenings playing games together to develop our camaraderie. And then the work during training. Once we had formed the group, it was easy to train and perform.

BTVF: What was the most memorable moment of this season for you, or one that sums up the season?

I would say perhaps the France Challenge, right in the middle of the season. We would have liked to do better in that challenge, but well, we know that short-duration competitions are quite difficult to perform in. But despite that, it didn’t discourage us for the season, and we managed to have some great games, in the group stage and in the final.

BTVF: If we’re being picky, what points need to be improved for next season?

Technically, I would talk about batting. Because it’s true that towards the end of the season, we had some small ‘holes’ in our batting, we struggled to make the right hits at the right time. Batting got a bit tired, even though it was supposed to be our strong point.

BTVF: You were named MVP of the final. How did you prepare mentally and physically for the final? Was it different from the rest of the season?

There’s always a bit of stress and stakes involved. We try to tell ourselves that we’ve performed all season, or at least, we’ve tried to do our best. Personally, I decided to let it flow because I told myself that it wasn’t the time to correct things. During the final, I relied on the season’s work, let the machine run, so to speak.

BTVF: Do you have a pre-game ritual?

Not really a ritual, but I have my habits. I always dress in a precise order: my elbow pad, my gloves, and my helmet. Otherwise, before each game, we put on music, a bit of everything that moves, everything that can put us in a good mood and get us moving and ready for the game.

BTVF: What are the goals for next season?

Since we won the championship, I would say to have good results in the European Cup and to keep the momentum going; and to keep the title to allow us to play in the European Cup the following year and so on!

BTVF: You were part of the French championship-winning team in 2019. How do you approach a season where you have a title to defend? Is it different to approach it as a favorite compared to a regular season?

Yes, it’s different. We lost the final in 2022, we finished third in 2023, so there was a break from the last year we were champions. When you’re the reigning champion, you know what it feels like, the sensation, you want to experience it again. Being the favorite always involves a lot, a lot of work to get where we are and stay there.

BTVF: A quick recap of the Euro held last month in Utrecht, what overall assessment do you make of your performances and those of the team?

Personally, I was very happy with my batting performances. As for the team, I felt that we were a united group, and in the French team, that’s a huge engine. After that, I’m all about the collective, group cohesion, I think that can take us very far. We would have liked to beat Spain to allow us to reach the top 6, it was a huge disappointment!

BTVF: France did indeed finish in 7th place. In your opinion, what is the next step to climb in the European and world rankings?

We need to climb the ranks one by one. Getting into the top 6 would be great! Once we’re in the top 6, it’s already a success! Then we need to keep pushing to go higher. If we prepare more each year and push our limits, we’ll have more chances of reaching our goals! Softball is a sport of experience, we know that, so we need to work individually and collectively. Stringing together high-level games prepares us much better to be ready at the right moment.

Sébastien Dondé