Douglas is a town lost in the middle of the American desert. A barbed-wire-topped wall cuts the town in two, marking the border with Mexico. This is where the film Arizona Dream was shot. A dozen kilometers to the west lies the campus of Cochise College and its baseball team: the Apaches.
On August 15, 2022, 18-year-old Mathis Meurant set foot there. The dream of many young French players, but not only. Many students dream of the MLB, and you have to make your mark. With the best batting average on the team and second in slugging average, Mathis stands out.
For Baseball TV France, he breaks down the myths and shares his impressions on this adventure:
I’m a freshman, a ‘Rookie,’ and I was really nervous when I arrived at Cochise, but I’m lucky to be with my brother Tanguy and mentored by Mathias Lacombe, who had already spent a year here last year. That put me at ease. The language barrier was tough at first to communicate with all the other players, but it got easier over time.
The year is split into two semesters. The first semester is called the ‘fall,’ a period where we train intensely. It’s from August to December, a time to prove you belong on the Cochise Apaches team for the season.
A typical day during this period: wake up at 5:20 AM, morning run at 5:30 AM, classes from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM, baseball practice from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, study time from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM, weight training from 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM. The second part of the year is the regular season, where we usually have two games on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The other days are a bit more relaxed than during the fall—no 5:30 AM morning runs!
We’re a bit in the desert, not much to do around our campus. The only outings we make are to the mall, 15 minutes by car. We live in houses of eight on campus, all baseball players. As for dining, we have a cafeteria on campus.
Since I’m in Junior College, we have basic facilities and two batting cages. This season, we have a beautiful synthetic field where we train and play.
I was surprised to find that everything is done by car or bus—it’s almost the only means of transport here. There are few trains or subways, at least where I am. A four-hour drive is nothing here.
The ACCAC conference in Arizona, where I am, is known as the best JUCO Division 1 division. We’re the only conference that hits with wood. All our pitchers average around 90 mph. I think Mathias [Lacombe] is the hardest thrower in our conference, clocking in at 98 mph.
Mathias is a dominant pitcher who’s catching the eye of many recruiters right now. I wish him the best because he deserves it. We all give 100% to be the best players we can be, and we’ll see what happens next!
Every player here dreams of a pro career.
My ultimate dream is to sign a pro contract with an MLB franchise. Committing to a D1 is also a project I hope for and envision.
Most of our away games are in Phoenix, a four-hour bus ride from Douglas. We only travel by bus. So far, we stay in Arizona for all our trips. However, if we reach the playoffs and win our conference in Arizona, the World Series will be in Grand Junction, Colorado.
With the little experience I have so far, I’d say the mindset differs depending on the period. During the fall, we have more individual goals—everyone wants to prove they belong in the group. During the season, it’s different; we have a collective goal—to form a team and win the season.
As for approaching training, the biggest difference I’ve noticed between French and American baseball is that here in the U.S., it’s a ‘sink or swim’ mentality. Everyone is in competition with everyone else, everyone wants to be the best, and that pushes everyone to excel. In France, we’re a bit softer, in my opinion.
What helps me improve the most here is the sheer number of games we play. We have 60 games in the season—almost three French seasons combined.
At every game, there are always scouts. Two D1 universities have already contacted me, and a pro organization has too.
If I had to give advice to a French player wanting the same experience, it would be to work hard and always push yourself. Another tip would be to master English before arriving, even though you pick it up quickly by practicing on the spot. I’m living an incredible experience here, and I wish every young French player could have it too.
This is an experience I’ll never forget, one that will be invaluable both as a player in France and as a human being.
Thanks to Mathis Meurant for his time and kindness.
Interview by Thomas Houlez
Photos Cochise USA: www.phrakephotography.com
Photos Templiers de Sénart FRANCE: Frederick Launay
