Saint-Raphaël Frozen Out by Évry

Here we are! The D1 decision is close at hand, both for the title and for the teams that will make up the league next year. On the schedule, the first weekend features Saint-Raphaël vs. Évry-Courcouronnes at Pharaon’s Park, while Grenoble and Nice fight for survival in the top national division, facing the best teams from Division 2: Toulouse and Strasbourg.

This matchup was likely the one many had been waiting for over the past few months. On one side, the Pharaonnes of Évry, determined to reclaim a national title that has eluded them for two years. On the other, the Comanches of Saint-Raphaël, the reigning back-to-back French champions and authors of a flawless regular season.

This year, the Varoises never left the field defeated. But to become champions, they still had to impose themselves on the Pharaonnes’ home turf. The Paris-region side knew what a final demanded and intended to remind everyone that a title isn’t won solely based on the regular-season standings.

While the final captures everyone’s attention, another equally intense battle unfolds in parallel. In Grenoble, the Grizzlys will face the Outlaws of Strasbourg with the weight of their Division 1 experience behind them. Opposite them, Strasbourg arrives with one of the most prolific offenses seen this season in Division 2 and the ambition of an underdog with nothing to lose.

In Nice, the mission looks trickier. Last in Division 1, the Niçoises will have to hold their own against the Stade Toulousain, the Division 2 leaders and a credible contender for promotion. The Toulousaines impress with the depth of their line-up, the quality of their pitching, and their collective balance. Facing them, the Azuréennes will need to rely on their recent performances, which have been fairly convincing.

Évry-Courcouronnes Stuns!

Game 1: Pharaonnes 9-2 Comanches

Despite a balanced start, the Paris-region side quickly took control thanks to opportunistic hitting and collective dominance that left little hope for Saint-Raphaël’s players.

The first innings had hinted at a tight match. After holding Évry’s offense in check during the first two innings, the Varoises struck first in the third inning with a triple by Pauline Prade and a productive single by Agathe Sagory. But that lead lasted only minutes.

The Pharaonnes responded immediately and devastatingly. In the bottom half of the third inning, Saint-Raphaël’s defense struggled, allowing Évry to explode on the scoreboard. Defensive errors piled up at the worst possible moment, and the Franciliennes capitalized. Lisa Papoin, Emma Liminier, Océane Lecourt Milliet, Christel Philippe—whose final home appearances these were—and Léonie Pauthe all contributed to a five-run inning that completely shifted the momentum of the game.

Évry’s offense never let up. Lisa Papoin added a spectacular inside-the-park home run in the fourth inning before Rosalie Coste finally put an end to the suspense in the fifth.

At the plate, several players stood out. Léonie Pauthe recorded two hits and drove in two runs; Christel Philippe also produced a key run, while Lisa Papoin scored three runs and hit the only extra-base hit of her team’s offense with her inside-the-park circuit. But it was Rosalie Coste who delivered the decisive offensive performance with three runs produced in the final inning.

On the mound, Emma Liminier had a particularly strong outing. The Pharaonnes’ pitcher covered all five innings, allowing seven hits but only two runs, with one walk and six strikeouts. She especially elevated her game when opposing runners threatened, limiting damage multiple times. Facing her, the Comanches had bad luck: Farah Saïdi got injured in the first inning and was replaced by Marjorie Brunel, who did her best—but in vain.

MVP: Rosalie Coste. While Emma Liminier dominated on the mound, Coste sealed the deal with a major offensive performance, capped by a three-run single that clinched the first act of this final.

Game 2: Pharaonnes 6-2 Comanches

From the early innings, the pitchers set the pace, with offenses struggling to place runners on base. The Pharaonnes finally broke through in the third inning when Christel Philippe and Léonie Pauthe set the stage for Lisa Papoin’s productive single.

Saint-Raphaël responded in the next inning, capitalizing on a few defensive miscues by Évry to score two runs. Pauline Prade and Marjorie Brunel created the threat, and the Varoises tied the score, suggesting the game could still swing.

The Franciliennes answered immediately. In the fourth inning, Emma Liminier led off with a single before Océane Lecourt Milliet and Sirena Salazar kept the pressure on. Christel Philippe drove in a run, and Elsa Lépinay delivered the game-changing hit with a two-run double. That blow redoubled Évry’s lead by three runs.

The fifth inning definitively tipped the scales. Emma Liminier was again central to the action, while disciplined batting from the Franciliennes led to multiple walks and a batter hit by pitch. Two more runs swelled the lead to 6-2.

Offensively, Évry didn’t need a flood of hits to make the difference. Emma Liminier finished with two hits and a run scored. Christel Philippe drove in two runs, including one on a sacrifice bunt, while Elsa Lépinay turned the tide with her two-run double. Lisa Papoin continued her strong final with a hit and a run produced.

But the name that stands out from this second game is Eidy Carolina Tortolero Monagas. From first to last pitch, the Pharaonnes’ pitcher delivered a masterclass. In seven complete innings, she allowed only two hits, two runs, and two walks while striking out ten batters. Her dominance was especially evident in critical moments, repeatedly stifling the Varoises’ offensive threats.

MVP: Eidy Carolina Tortolero Monagas. With only two hits allowed and ten strikeouts, the Franciliennes’ ace took complete control of the game and gave the Pharaonnes a 2-0 lead in these French Series.

After this first weekend, the Pharaonnes return with two wins and a clear psychological edge. Backed by an offense capable of punishing any defensive mistake and a pitching tandem of Emma Liminier and Eidy Tortolero Monagas performing at a high level, they are now just one win away from a new national title. Saint-Raphaël, however, showed in flashes that they have the tools to compete. The Varoises will now need to go nearly flawless in the second weekend to reverse the trend and reignite this final. Already without De Ridder, the team will likely also have to play without Saïdi. The task is difficult, but the Comanches are capable—stung by this setback, their response could be terrifying!

The Time of Verdicts

The Moment of Truth for Grenoble and Nice

While French softball eyes turn to the Division 1 women’s final, other decisive matchups are unfolding in the southeastern quarter of the country.

Grenoble Wants to Showcase Its Experience

The Grizzlys had a tough season but faced the best teams in the league every week. This experience could weigh heavily against Strasbourg, a team that hasn’t yet faced the intensity of the top national level.

Grenoble’s offense has several weapons capable of turning the tide. Diane Simon has emerged as the team’s offensive anchor with a .473 batting average and a 1.132 OPS. Kristyna Korousova also carried a large share of the offensive production with 19 hits, 16 RBIs, and a .916 OPS. Shirley Patin rounds out the trio with a .310 average, a .948 OPS, and—most importantly—excellent plate discipline, illustrated by her 11 walks.

Around this core, Grenoble can rely on Hermine Boudousq, Ellie Bouis, and Justine Liardet to fuel their attacks. The Grizzlys aren’t lacking in offensive talent, but their main issue this season has often been converting opportunities into long enough scoring sequences to offset defensive struggles.

On the mound, Victoria Biteur carried a heavy workload with nearly 39 innings pitched but a 5.97 ERA. Manureva Salze was also heavily used, with an 8.37 ERA. The Grizzlys allow too many hits and too many runs, often putting their offense under pressure.

Defensively, Grenoble presents a mixed picture. Some players have solid statistics, but the team has also accumulated a high number of errors this season, partly explaining their standings.

Strasbourg Can Rely on Its Offense

Second in Division 2, the Outlaws approach this playoff with confidence. Their offensive statistics this season are simply impressive.

Abigail Voss dominated the championship with an .833 average and a 1.986 OPS. Emma Prignot added nine RBIs and two home runs while batting .429. Elodie Otthoffer compiled a .550 average, while Jeanne Cordazzo, Lucy Megret, and Nikkie Zavattero consistently filled the scoreboard.

The main question, however, concerns pitching. The Alsatian aces have an ERA above 8.00; in a Division 2 championship, this weakness has sometimes been masked by offensive power, but against Grenoble, Strasbourg’s pitchers will be far more exposed.

The defense appears generally reliable around Emma Prignot, who has been flawless this season, and Abigail Voss, who has been highly active in controlling baserunners. However, some players have struggled more, which could become a key factor in what promises to be a tight duel.

This confrontation ultimately pits two teams against each other, with the decisive factor likely lying in the bullpen. The Grizzlys seem to have an advantage from their Division 1 experience, while Strasbourg may have the most explosive offense in this playoff series.

Nice Under Pressure Against the D2 Leader

Last in the championship, the Cavigal has had a tough season across nearly every facet of the game. Yet the Niçoises still have several standout players capable of sparking a comeback.

Emma Ledin was the most consistent offensive player with a .394 average and an OPS over 1.000. Emma Flayol produced remarkable statistics when she played, batting .533. Christelle Giret and Anaisie Bugna also made significant contributions in a struggling team.

The main issue stems from a lack of offensive depth. Several starters finished the season under .200, and the team has struggled to build explosive innings. Nice usually scores through effort, while opponents more easily string together hits.

On the mound, Amandine Bertrand took on a massive workload with nearly 60 innings pitched. Her 7.98 ERA remains high but reflects her responsibility in the lineup. Emma Flayol has encouraging statistics and could play a major role in this matchup.

To maximize their chances of staying in D1, the Niçoises will need to pay close attention to avoiding too many defensive errors.

Toulouse Looks Like a Credible Promotion Candidate

Leading Division 2, the Stade Toulousain’s Tigresses arrive with the most complete profile among the four teams in these playoffs.

The Toulousaines’ offense immediately impresses with the statistics. Elodie Legoy had an outstanding season with a .571 average, two home runs, and 27 total runs. Victoria Navega produced 12 RBIs with a .500 average. Aislinn Provost, Camille Lambert-Cervetti, Alix Bidondo, Sarah Authier, and Josephine Prohl form a particularly dense line-up.

Unlike some teams that rely on two or three key players, Toulouse appears capable of scoring runs at nearly every position in the batting order. This depth could prove decisive over a multi-game series.

Pitching is also a strong point. Virginie Hemmi won three games this season. Léa Decoux has a 2.00 ERA, while Pascale Roquelaine allowed no earned runs in her appearances. The defense also offers solid guarantees. Several starters have a perfect defensive percentage. Aislinn Provost committed no errors all season, while Anais Monge, Victoria Navega, and Astrid Paulino also have flawless records.

But statistics always stop when the umpire calls the first pitch. From that moment on, only the ability to handle pressure will determine which teams will play in Division 1 next season. This is especially true since the D2 championship has suffered from a lack of teams and thus competitiveness, making numbers less meaningful—but caution must still be exercised by current D1 teams. Conversely, Grenoble and Nice have faced the best national teams and drawn strength from adversity. Now it’s up to them to make the most of it.

Sébastien Dondé.

Photo credits: Clubs’ records and FFBS