Some Dutch softball players got a taste of Brighton High School softball earlier this month.
Kelsey Camp, who will be a sophomore this fall at Brighton, was chosen to represent the United States June 17-25 in a tour of the Netherlands. She was one of 12 high school players from around the country who took part in the event.
“It was really cool,” said Camp, who started at third base during her freshman season at Brighton. “It’s just so different over there.”
Camp, who had never been on a plane or visited a foreign country, made the 11-hour, 4,500-mile trip with her step mother, Mirandi Sanderson, and was the only player from Tennessee on the team. Other players were from Illinois, California and South Carolina.
She attended a camp sponsored by former Olympic softball player Jennie Finch two summers ago in Little Rock and was selected for this tour based on her performance there.
Camp played second base, shortstop and outfield and took part in four games after a few practices. Her team went 2-2, playing the Netherlands Olympic team and three other area teams.
She said the pitching circle was about two feet closer than it is in high school softball but, other than that, the conditions were very similar to how they are stateside.
Most of her opponents knew English, but she got a taste of the Dutch language.
“When the other coaches were talking in Dutch to the players you wondered what they were saying,” Camp said with a laugh. “The teams were really good.”
Camp took a few boat rides, did some sightseeing and visited various cities and neighboring country Belgium.
Brighton head coach Robin Jacobs said that experience should serve Camp well as she continues her softball career.
“She did really well for us last year, starting every game and hitting leadoff,” Jacobs said. “She’s going to be a really good player.”
