Team GB Assistant Coach David Lee said the Guernsey players account for 10% of the selection group.
Pictured: Team GB Assistant Coach David Lee.
“There is a wider group of 40 players and we select players from that group to make co-ed or men’s teams for Team GB,” he said.
“The four Guernsey players absolutely deserve the places in that group. They all worked very hard and earned their places on merit.”
Mr Lee said that Guernsey has a history of producing talented softball players.
“In Guernsey, there is a legacy of top-level coaching to produce talented players,” he said.
Pictured: Macy Cortez.
“Guernsey players have proven to be just as good, if not better, than the home-grown mainland players.
“Historically, Guernsey mostly played fast-pitch softball, but in recent years switched to slow-pitch, which is what Team GB play, so the players came on to our radar for that reason.”
Miss Cortez, Miss Marquis and Mr Smith also play for Bristol Tigers in the National Softball League.
Pictured: Kirstie Marquis.
Mr Elmy has not played for a national team but has played for Guernsey.
The players were given their places after a trial for the team in January in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire.
Pictured: Josh Smith.
Mr Lee said all four players had strong chances of being selected for upcoming games.
“The next opportunity for them will be to play in Italy in June on the men’s team and then in July in Slovenia on the co-ed team,” he said.
“We at Team GB see the Guernsey players not only as possible selected participants in the upcoming European Championships this summer but also as the long-term future of GB softball.”
Pictured: Jake Elmy.
Photo credits: Martin Gray of Guernsey Sport Photography and Keenan Butcher.