Shaily Penfornis, a 15‑year‑old pitcher‑hitter from La Guerche de Bretagne, France, is making her second appearance at the Freeport International Baseball Invitational, this time as the tournament’s sole French representative.
Having first attended the event in 2023 with her club team, she now returns solo, eager to test herself against some of the world’s top teenage talent on familiar diamonds.
Despite a tendon inflammation in her right elbow, Penfornis logged four games, seeing action on the mound, at first base and at the plate, and even recorded a fastball clocked at 61 mph.
Her performance included a decisive win over a Dutch side, where she combined solid pitching with timely hitting, underscoring her resilience and raw skill.
Trailblazing for Women’s Baseball
Penfornis sees herself as a pioneer for girls and women in French baseball, a mission she honors by wearing the number 42 in tribute to Jackie Robinson, whose barrier‑breaking legacy continues to inspire her.
She often points to Shohei Ohtani as a model of dual‑threat excellence, admiring the Japanese star’s ability to dominate both hitting and pitching.
Beyond the scoresheet, Penfornis inspires younger players; a father recently told his daughter that, thanks to Shaily, she too can dream of stepping onto a baseball field.
Her father, Greg Penfornis, remains confident that French girls and women should continue to pursue baseball, even as the national women’s program faced an unexpected pause this year.
Dave Brestensky, vice president of the Freeport International Baseball Invitational, expressed enthusiasm about her return and voiced hopes that teams from Canada, Italy, Japan and Australia will join the event next summer.
France, represented by tournament director Brestensky, also aims to bring a full French squad to the invitational next year, signaling a growing ambition to host the event on home soil.