THE Channel Islands team has been seeded third in softball’s World Series in the UK next month.

Last year Jersey were ranked bottom of the 14 sides taking part – but sprang a major surprise by finishing third.

And this time the team will be even stronger with the inclusion of the Guernsey players.

Again there will be 14 teams with only South Africa and Australasia ranked higher than the CI and England and Ireland further down the order.

The World Series starts on 17 September at the British Airways Concorde ground at Heathrow.

Said president of the Jersey Softball Association Alison Wade: ‘We’ll be a stronger team this time and winning it isn’t out of the question at all – Guernsey have got two strong island sides.

It will be a real feather in our caps if we do.’ Meanwhile the players will be preparing in the inter-insular clashes on 10 and 11 September in Guernsey.

On the Saturday there will be the inter-island club matches with Serco Cubs facing the winners of the Guernsey Division II title Doyle Motors Rookies, followed by the Barclays Niners against the Sarnian Division I champions, Red Onion Red Sox.

The following day the inter-island matches will be played with the B match first followed by the A team game.