Following a series of GB Slowpitch Open Trials held across a number of dates and venues over the winter, Head Coach Stephen Patterson has announced the names of those who have been added to the GB Slowpitch Team pool for 2016.
Eleven successful new trialists, and three successful re-trialists, have been added to the squad. These players are now eligible to be selected to represent Great Britain in any of the domestic and international competitions the team will take part in this year.
Success​
The successful GB trialists are:
Matt Burnett
James Cavalier
Lilly Chinn
David Grey
Kris Hadwin
Rob Mosley
Daniel Patterson
Hannah Pitman
Manny Santos
Neil Sylvester
Anna Whicher
The successful re-trialists are:
Lee Cornwall
Sherry Kenyon
Michael Williams
All of these trialists attended GB training events and trials in February in Manchester and/or in Marlow towards the end of March.
Coach Patterson reiterated to the incoming players that they each have an equal opportunity to compete under the banner of Team GB. "The coaches and I are delighted with the young players coming into the programme,” Stephen said. “Whether it be in competitions in 2016 or over the next few years, these players have given themselves every opportunity to be involved for a long, long time."
Newly-appointed GB Team Manager Kellie Whitaker congratulated the successful trialists. "Having not known of many of the players that came through the Open Trials,” Kellie said, “I was impressed by how well the new players were doing and the level of camaraderie that was evidenced so shortly into the sessions."
The GB Slowpitch Team staff is now looking for a number of playing opportunities this summer for the new players. "I believe that the more players play with the GB jersey on,” Stephen Patterson said, “the more comfortable they will be when they eventually reach the higher stages of the game."
On 16 April, the new players will join the rest of the squad at the annual GB Challenge Tournament at Farnham Park, which is used as one element in selection decisions for competition squads, and many of the new players will compete as part of the GB Development Team in the Softball World Series in September.
With no European Championships in 2016, all GB players will be hoping for selection to the squad that will compete in the WBSC World Cup – or possibly World Championship – at the ISF Headquarters complex in Plant City, Florida in November.
New blood
The success of the GB Slowpitch Team relies on new players entering the programme. They may be at different levels of ability, but GB coaching sessions are designed to tap into their individual talents and maximise player potential. The opportunity for new players to develop is the key to assuring that Team GB's performances remain high both in the immediate and long-term future.
In the most recent two-year competition cycle, 29 different players travelled and competed in European Championships and the Slowpitch World Cup.
Stephen Patterson added: "The success of the trials would not have been possible without the dedicated efforts of outgoing Team Manager Sara Vertigan, Assistant Coach Mike Ashley and newly-appointed Assistant Coach David Lee. Their experience makes assessing talent a whole lot more efficient."
GB Open
Both the successful trialists and veteran GB players will be on hand on Sunday 17 April at Farnham Park to support Team GB's annual fundraising tournament, the GB Slowpitch Open.
Teams or individual players still looking for a place in the GB Open should contact Mike MacDowell on gmm315@gmail.com.
The GB Slowpitch Team is also currently looking for a new title sponsor. Anyone interested should contact Stephen Patterson on servpatt2004@hotmail.com.