Manosque Baseball Club: New Team Brings American Sport to Provence

MANOSQUE, France – A new baseball club, the Manosque Baseball Club, has been established in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence region, a first for the area, founded by three baseball enthusiasts spanning three generations. The club, currently comprised of 17 members including five children and three women, aims to cultivate a local passion for the sport and fill a void left by the closure of the Peyrolles “Old Stars” club in 2025.

The initiative was spearheaded by Thierry Godbert, 62, the club’s president, who has been licensed with the French Baseball and Softball Federation (FFBS) for four decades. Alongside him are Anthony Mathelin, 39, serving as general secretary and Lucas Schmied, 27, the deputy secretary and head of communications. Godbert explained the impetus for forming the club: “With Anthony, we played at Peyrolles. But the club unfortunately closed. Rather than stopping our favorite activity or making long trips, we said to ourselves: ‘What if we created our own structure?’”

The club’s formation addresses a need for local access to baseball, particularly after the dissolution of the Peyrolles team. Currently, members gather for training sessions every Monday evening at the Rochette park in Manosque. The focus is on foundational skills, according to Schmied: “As there are many beginners, we start from scratch. For now, we are focusing on match situations, throws, and catches.”

The Manosque Baseball Club has already begun to attract a diverse membership base. Mathelin noted the enthusiastic support from the local Japanese community, many of whom are employed at ITER and Cadarache, as well as interest from Puerto Rican residents. The club hopes to expand its reach, particularly among younger players, with a goal of forming a team of 10 to 14-year-olds.

Although the club was unable to participate in the recent associations forum, recruitment efforts have continued through word of mouth. The founders are planning to establish a recruitment stand in the future. They are also exploring opportunities to participate in the autumn league and arrange friendly matches with clubs in nearby towns such as Pertuis, Gap, Lançon-Provence, and Orange.

Godbert emphasized the holistic benefits of baseball, stating, “Baseball is a complete discipline: It’s not brutal, but you have to run, be agile, have power and above all play with your head.” He also sought to dispel any concerns about the sport’s complexity, adding, “Everyone is welcome for us to teach! It’s like in chess, you can move forward and sacrifice players.”

Those interested in joining or learning more about the Manosque Baseball Club can contact them at [email protected].