In what is now becoming a spring and autumn ritual, two mixed teams of junior fastpitch players from the UK will head for Ermont, a northern suburb of Paris, on the weekend of 12-13 March to defend their title in the Tournoi Des Expos 2016.
This tournament takes place in March each year, and a companion tournament, the Tournoi de Fleur, named after former GB Women’s Team player and French softball stalwart Fleur Edgerton, is played each October at another location near Paris.
GB Under-19 Men’s Team Manager Ian Tomlin and Head Coach Josh Peat, who will lead the group, have selected a number of younger male and female players who will get the chance to gain valuable game time against some stiff opposition, alongside players with more international experience.
The Tournoi Des Expos provides valuable preparation for all these players, both for the upcoming Great Britain Fastpitch League and this summer’s international tournaments.
Players
The players selected for the trip are:
Marianna Casal
Saskia Davies
Eliza Esiri
Lily Ferragamo
Emma Harris
Theo Longboy
Isabel Quy
Chelsie Robison
Annecy Stevens
Georgia Street
Josh Peat (Player/Coach)
Kai Benaim
Ieuan Gale
Sam Grafton
George Harris
Tom Lang
Jack Nielan
Dan Patterson
Jake Roberts
Ben Tomlin
George Young
Photos are by Jan Grafton from the Tournoi des Expos in 2015