THE island’s new fast-pitch men’s coach is looking to the future. Curt Taylor, La Grande Mare pitcher/coach, has taken over the reins of the island side from Jason Smith, who will look after Guernsey’s A and B slow-pitch outfits.

But Taylor is more interested in the long term than the short and says he will not be looking to enter Guernsey into any specific tournaments over the summer unless something comes up.

‘What I’m proposing is that we do this season and then we train over the winter with our goal being next season. But if the right opportunity comes up this year, I’ll look at it,’ he said.

‘There are lots of tournaments going on around Europe and it’s just a matter of finding the right one. I took the job on because I think it needed a little bit of a revamp.

‘It’s been on a year-to-year basis and we need a plan. Having got a qualification in fast-pitch coaching I wanted to put it into practice.’

The men’s fast-pitch season one gets under way on Saturday when Taylor’s Giants meet Plough Inn Titans on the Beau Sejour top diamond. NRG Rangers and the Smith-coached junior side, Slattery Decor Sluggers, make up the rest of the league and meet on Sunday.

Giants have won the title for the last three years.

‘I’m looking forward to the season and I anticipate that it will be closer than it has been in the last couple of seasons, but it’s difficult to gauge until you get out there,’ said Taylor.

‘I’ve had word that one or two players have dropped out and there are some new ones coming in. And there has been a marked improvement in Jason Smith’s squad.

‘There’s some junior players in there who will be looking at the island squad and I expect to see some marked improvements in their game this year,’ Taylor added.

In a new move by the Guernsey Softball Association, the annual open tournament has moved from its regular date of the August bank holiday weekend to the beginning of that month.

The switch has already sparked interest from some top European teams such as the Belgian national team, Lakenheath, Great Britain Meteors and last season’s French champions, The Pessac Panthers.

On the slow-pitch side, Saturday also sees the league season open.

In Division One, Tornados and Triton Leg Draggers have both benefited from the disbandment of last season’s champions Red Sox due to their coach, Ben Corson, going travelling for the year.

Marissa Mollet’s Tornados have picked up Glen Cortez and Sally Le Noury while Leg Draggers have signed Steve Mahy. It all bodes well for an exciting and close season.

After being formed last year, NRG Rangers’ slow-pitch team, led by coach and GSA president Paul Vaudin, face their first season in the top flight.

They have a mixture of both experienced veterans, such as Tony Gillespie and Trevor Crittell, along with some relative newcomers.

They could face a challenging season ahead.

Arguably the side to benefit most from the disbandment of Red Sox is newly formed Division Two side Stonecraft Blue Sox.

Island stars Mark and Dave Rihoy -?the latter the Muratti footballer – have dropped down a division to help form a side with some more inexperienced slow-pitch players.

Last season’s Division One wooden-spoonists Doyle Motors Rookies will be looking to bounce straight back up to the top flight and with St Peter Port Pirates, plus newly promoted Bourse Warriors also challenging. Division Three also looks set to be very tight.

Mercator have improved greatly in the two seasons they have been playing and look set to challenge for a top spot.

Sylvans, last season’s runners-up, have changed their name to Pentagon Pumas and under the leadership of island football captain Matt Warren may look to improve on their 2006 showing.

Warren loves the social aspect of softball.

‘We’re looking to compete but I think our lack of training may make us pay,’ he said.

‘Softball is a real good laugh and it’s a sport that you can have a real good craic with.’

For more information and the full fixture see the GSA website, www.guernseysoftball.com.