Tuesday 3 December 2013
Four students from The Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL) have impressed the selectors to earn their places in the England rounders squad.
Year 11 students Lucy Stead and Grace Hall (pictured above l-r) are members of the under 16 squad. For Lucy, who plays in backshop position, it is her fourth England rounders call-up and she said: “It’s a great experience, especially in a sport that is not as well recognised as some others.”
Grace, who plays in first base position, said: “It’s amazing. I’m really looking forward to future matches and to representing my country.”
Year 9 pupil Sophie Lancaster, who plays deep, and Jessica Ducker, year 8, who plays inner field, are in the under 14 squad. This is particularly remarkable for Jessie as she is a year young. Jessie (pictured below left with Sophie) said: “It’s good to be a part of a game that is so fast moving and so exciting. I’m thrilled to be selected.”
Kate Nash, head of rounders at GSAL, said: “This is a tremendous achievement for the girls. It is the first year we have tested the system by sending a larger cohort of girls across the age ranges to see how successful we could be. It has paid off and resulted in four girls being selected, which is our largest number to date. We also have a number of girls who went to trials and who are chasing places in these squads; we feel sure they too are very close to succeeding.”