Eastern Illinois senior pitcher Bryanna French, a Christ Our Rock Lutheran graduate, continues to build one of the most impressive softball resumes to come out of the area in recent years, as she was officially named Ohio Valley Conference All-League First Team.
French’s senior season for the Panthers was a testament to both consistency and toughness in the circle. She finished the year with a 10-6 record, posting a 3.57 ERA while logging 106 innings pitched. She also proved to be one of the league’s most dependable late-game arms, collecting five saves and striking out 67 batters.
That combination of durability, control, and clutch pitching helped French separate herself among the top players in the Ohio Valley Conference, earning her a spot on the league’s highest all-conference team.
Her first-team recognition caps off a college career that has been defined by steady growth and a relentless work ethic—traits that have followed her from high school through every level of competition.
French’s journey to the top of the OVC began at Christ Our Rock Lutheran, where she established herself as a talented and competitive pitcher. She also sharpened her skills on the club circuit, playing with the Midwest Menace, a program known for developing high-level talent.
From there, she took her game to the next level at Lake Land College in Mattoon, Illinois, where she became one of the most dominant junior college pitchers in the country. Over two seasons (2022-24), French helped lead the Lakers to back-to-back 50-win seasons, including a 51-win campaign that ended with a trip to the NJCAA World Series.
Her sophomore year was especially impressive, as she went 22-6 with a 1.04 ERA, adding 152 strikeouts in 181.2 innings, earning NJCAA Division I Second Team All-American honors. In conference play that season, she was nearly untouchable, going 13-3 with a 0.75 ERA.
French carried that winning pedigree and big-game experience into her career at Eastern Illinois, where she continued to make an impact in the OVC.
As a junior in 2025, she appeared in 19 games and made two starts, finishing with a 3-4 record, one save, and a 3.95 ERA. She made her first appearance in the season opener against Prairie View A&M, later picking up key conference wins against Morehead State and Tennessee Tech, while recording her save against Southeast Missouri.
That season served as a strong foundation for what became her breakthrough senior campaign—one that has now earned her a place among the OVC’s best.
Now, with All-OVC First Team honors added to an already decorated career, French’s name joins the growing list of standout athletes from Christ Our Rock who have proven they can compete at the highest levels.
For Eastern Illinois, she wasn’t just a pitcher—she was a dependable ace, a closer when needed, and a leader in the circle. For her hometown community, she’s a reminder of what can happen when talent meets work ethic.
And now, she’s officially an Ohio Valley Conference First Team selection—one of the best in the league.
