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Grace Kearney in action for the Ireland fastpitch team
AN Oakpark native will pull on the green jersey for Ireland at the World Fastpitch Championships in Canada this month.
In doing so, Grace Kearney, will be the only member of the team from Kerry and the only Munster based player to have been selected for this tournament.
Fastpitch is a form of softball. The game involves a different pitching style than the more well softball. Both sports are cousins of Baseball and rounders.
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This will be the first time an Ireland team will be represented at a world championship. The games take place in Surrey, Canada which is located in the Vancover metropolitan area.
For the day-job, Grace is a teacher in Killaloe, Co Clare. After damaging her back in college playing rugby, Grace, was told she would struggle to play a competitive sport again. Thankfully she came across fastpitch which she could continuing to scratch that competitive itch.
Softball has been a sport in Ireland since 1989 with the Fastpitch softball programme being introduced in 2014 due to the high level of interest of the female players to develop their skill set and compete to a higher level on an all women’s team.
The team competed last July in the European Championship allowing a pathway to hit the world stage. The Irish team is fully self funded and the cost of attending the tournament is in the range of €40,000 to €60,000. Best of luck Grace!
Grace Kearney, getting ready to blow one out of the park.
The Ireland Women’s Fastpitch Team.
