A TRIO of Guernsey softball stars helped Great Britain come third in the recent European Softball Federation Men’s Fastpitch Championships.
Held in Copenhagen, Sarnians Curt Taylor, Marco Silvestri and John-Paul Mauger all featured for Britain.
La Grande Mare Mozzie pitcher Taylor, who is the president of the Guernsey Softball Association, has played for Great Britain in the past, as has 26-year-old NRG Rangers outfielder Silvestri.
Former Rangers star Mauger, who was born in Guernsey, now lives in the UK and plays for London Meteors.
‘I am sure that I speak for Marco and John-Paul when I say that I was proud to wear a Great Britain shirt and to have had the opportunity to play our sport at Europe’s highest level,’ said Taylor.
Besides Great Britain, the competition featured The Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, The Czech Republic, Slovakia, Israel and Croatia.
The third-place finish qualifies Great Britain for the 2009 International Softball Federation XII World Championships, which are due to take place in Saskatoon, Canada, in July.
Britain had come agonisingly close to a place in the final against the Czech Republic.
In their last play-off match against Denmark, they were leading 2-0 at the bottom of the fifth innings but eventually lost by 4-3 after a four-run rally by the Danes in their fifth innings in bat.
The Czechs, who were unbeaten throughout the tournament, went on to get the better of Denmark 7-5 in the final.
Britain were standing in third place out of eight after the round robin.
That was on the back of beating The Netherlands 7-5 after twice coming back from behind, which left the Dutch in fourth after the round-robin.
Britain went on to meet the Dutch again in a play-off and with everything to play for, the British came through with a solid performance and a 6-0 win put paid to a Dutch bronze medal.
Taylor played in every one of Britain’s matches in the week-long tournament.
‘I was taking nothing for granted before the Championships but I was thrilled to play a part in all nine of our games,’ he said.
Silvestri was utilised in a number of the games as an outfielder.
Taylor believes he did himself proud hopes that other young local players follow his lead and make it onto the international scene.
‘At the age of 26, Marco was one of the younger squad members and with further commitment could look forward to future inclusion in the squad and lead the way for other young Guernsey players,’ he said.
Taylor said that the big difference between the local game and playing the top teams in Europe was the pitching.
‘Guernsey-based players are not accustomed to regularly facing the standard of pitching that is prevalent among the majority of teams at European Championship level,’ he said.
‘One of the three Denmark pitchers for example, Kim Hansen, was heard to say to one of the attending TV crews that he is recorded at pitching at 136kph (84.5mph), so when you are sent to face that sort of speed, you know that you need to make some adjustments and you have to make them quick.’
Taylor was also full of praise for Great Britain’s coach Russ Snow.
‘Russ’s knowledge of the game and his commendable record as both a player and a coach put him in a position that commands respect,’ he said.
‘Russ makes it his business to know what you are capable of as a player on a physical and mental level and knows what he expects from you, whilst taking into account all the distractions and variables that can be present during a game.
‘On the whole, the general success of the GB team was down to maintaining a good level of focus throughout the tournament, great camaraderie and the fact that every player wanted to be there and, when required to do so, gave 100%.’