Five years ago, softball was just getting started at.jpg)
Fakenham High School in Norfolk, and a novice girls' fastpitch team found themselves on the wrong end of some very large scores against the American high school team from nearby RAF Lakenheath.
Since then, a lot of hard work has gone into building both fastpitch and slowpitch programmes in Fakenham. And it was a sign of how far things have come that Fakenham opened their 2012 season on Saturday, March 24 with a hard-fought doubleheader win against the Lakenheath varsity in front of a large home crowd at Fakenham's purpose-built field.
The games were won by scores of 11-9 and 15-13, with GB Under-16 pitcher Amie Hutchison pitching all seven innings in the first game and five innings in the second game. Two innings of solid relief in Game 2 were provided by Florence House.
Late runs
In Game 1, the teams were tied at 10-10 going into the seventh inning. But Lakenheath failed to score in the top half, leaving Fakenham to knock in a couple or runs and secure the win in the bottom half of the inning.
In the second game, Lakenheath led 12-10 going into the final inning. Batting in the top half of the inning, Fakenham struggled and found themselves quickly with two outs and nobody on. Megan Morgan, the next batter, had struggled with the bat all day, but on a 3-2 pitch, she lined the ball into the outfield to record a double. This brought up the top of the order, and the next four batters all came home before the final out was recorded to put Fakenham ahead 15-12.
In the bottom of the seventh, Fakenham held their nerve and conceded only one run before closing out the game.
Looking ahead
Fakenham will travel to Lakenheath on Wednesday, April 18 
for a return engagement.
The Fakenham fastpitch programme continues to develop and has ambitions to make even greater strides over the next few years.
Meanwhile, the Norfolk Softball Association's adult slowpitch league is over-subscribed for this year, with many players unable to find places on the league's seven teams. There are plans to expand to two divisions in 2013.