GB Juniors: European Qualifiers Roster

The Great Britain Junior National Team faces a huge challenge when they compete at the CEB European Junior Qualifier in Attnang-Puchheim, Austria, from August 2 – 8. The winners of the tournament will qualify for the Championship in 2011; the GB Juniors last competed at the top level in 2006 having won the qualifier in Belgium in 2005.

Regular open practises were held at Heyford over the winter and tryouts were conducted by Head Coach Paul Vernon during late March and early April. A double-header at Herts in March and May games with international schools ACS Cobham and TASIS followed. The Juniors will play at the London Tournament in July before heading off on Thursday 29 July to a Preparation Camp in Munich where they will practise, play against Munich’s Junior aged teams and, hopefully, see the GB Senior Team in action at the Euros. They move on to Attnang-Puchheim, near Salzburg, on Monday 2 August.

The squad selected by Head Coach Paul Vernon and General Manager Jonathon Pearson includes a number of players with several years experience playing for Great Britain as well as some newcomers. Billy Atkinson-Warne, Ben Pearson and Rob Vondy, the squad’s only 18-year old players will be supported by long time internationals Ryan Soan, Connor Vernon, Jamie Ratcliff, Ross Deanie, Zak O Boyle, Ryan Kurtzer and Cailean Madden, who will all be playing in their first Junior CEB Tournament. Zack Chambers and Jordan Edmonds will also be playing with the GB Cadets, who compete in Sweden in June. Dan Parker, son of Great Britain Senior Team alumni Frank Parker, will make his GB debut, as will Luke Looney from Bristol. The squad is rounded out by two American-based British citizens; Ethan Mack, a pitcher/outfielder from California, and James Lynfield, a catcher/first baseman from New York; their activities have been monitored closely by Coach Vernon over e-mail and video since the beginning of the year.

Staff
Paul Vernon – Head Coach
Liam Carroll – Assistant Coach
Jonathon Pearson – General Manager

Squad
Billy Atkinson-Warne – London
Zack Chambers – Horsham / Bracknell
Ross Deanie – Glasgow
Jordan Edmonds – Horsham / Bracknell
Ryan Kurtzer – Oak Park / River Forest High School, Illinois
Luke Looney – Bristol
James Lynfield – Collegiate High School, New York
Ethan Mack – Arlington High School, California
Cailean Madden – LYBL / Windsor
Zak O’Boyle – Bolton
Dan Parker – Harrogate
Ben Pearson – Manchester
Jamie Ratcliff – Horsham / Kent
Ryan Soan – Bracknell
Damian Van Niekerk – Bracknell
Connor Vernon – Bracknell
Rob Vondy – Liverpool

Alternates
Mike Dixon – Halton
Adam Haywood – Bracknell
Kevin Ortiz – London
Guy Packham – Horsham
Perrie Sherman – Horsham / Herts / Harrogate