One of the key aims of the GB Fastpitch programme is to make sure that every team gets at least some competitive games abroad every year, even if they don't have an official ESF or ISF competition.
So it was that 12 players from the GB Minime (Under-13) Girls' Fastpitch Team, plus three staff and a number of parents and supporters found themselves on an overnight coach to Amsterdam at the start of the August Bank Holiday weekend.
Before the trip, the Minimes played a test tourney against the Horsham Red Sox baseball team and won by two games to one. According to GB Minime Head Coach Caroline Champion, "The boys were awesome and really played with good spirit. It was instrumental in getting the girls game-ready."
On the road
Arriving in Amsterdam, the team took a walk and the players got to see the Palace and Abbey where the Dutch Prince and Princess were married, plus the War Memorial and a market with flowers and cheese on sale. Then there was a boat ride through the canals to see the bridges and architecture of the city before everyone took the train to Alkmaar, northeast of Amsterdam, and a bus to the Stay Okay Hostel in Egmond.
Over the next three days, the team cycled to and from the hostel to the field in Alkmaar where they played games against three local teams.
"They did very well in both rain and shine," Caroline Champion reported, "covering a total of 41 miles over the three days."
The GB group also took a short trip to Bergen beach for dinner with family and friends, including a dip in the sea and finished off with an ice cream.
The purpose
The trip was designed by Caroline Champion and GB Performance Director Hayley Scott as a team-building exercise, part of the development of a young squad that will play in next year’s European Under-13 Tournament to be held in Collecchio, near Parma, Italy in August.
In an attempt to attract more teams to the event (only four teams, including GB, took part in 2010), the ESF has changed the nature of the tournament. It will no longer be designated as a European Championship and instead will be called Massimo Romeo Youth Trophy, named after the Italian who pushed through the idea of European play at this age level.
Both national and club teams can enter, including more than one team per country, and the ESF will be relaxed about player nationality. The idea is to get more teams and players at this age level involved in European competition, and 2012 will be the first time this new approach to the tournament has been tried.
The games
After all the travelling and sight-seeing, the GB Minimes played games against a local Under-16 team, the Alcmaria Victrix Pirates, on August 26 and 27, and then a final game against the Bergen Bears on August 28.
The older and more experienced Pirates were too strong for the GB Team, winning 13-4 and 15-3.
But GB had a closely fought and exciting game with Bergen, and came away with a 14-13 win.
All three games provided valuable experience for players who rarely get to play a proper game on a proper field.
Caroline Champion summed up the weekend: "The girls bonded really well as a team. They now know what to expect when we travel to Italy next year, which will be a far more demanding trip as there will be more games in hotter conditions over a longer period of time.
"The coaches are very proud of the girls," Caroline added."Their behaviour on and off the field was exemplary, whether playing, cycling, site-seeing or on public transport.
"We are looking forward to training over the winter and taking a competitive team to the European tournament next year."
The people
The following people made the trip to Holland:
Players
Sarah Cannons
Katie Long
Cecily LoBreglio
Gemma MacKinnon
Scarlett Neill
Chelsie Robison
Jasmine Rushin
Rhea Simister
Erin Simmonds
Annecy Stevens
Megan Strachan
Robyn Wilson
Coaches
Caroline Champion
Beth Perkins
Manager
Dawn Robison
Supporters
Jasmine Neill (non-travelling reserve who guested for the Pirates).
Rose and Fred Newland (our Honorary Granny and Granpa).
Paul Simmonds
Debra Cannons (unofficial team scorer)
John LoBreglio
Melissa LoBreglio
Oliver LoBreglio