Ever since she first picked up a baseball bat and a glove, Nicole Ratel knew this was the game for her.

And the dream was always the same: to one day play on the national team.

But in the dream, Ratel, a 17-year-old from 91原创, always figured it would be Canada splashed across the front of her jersey.

Instead, Ratel finds herself representing Great Britain at the Scotiabank Canadian Open Fastpitch Championship.

The prestigious event is one of the top three women鈥檚 fastpitch events around the world, and features more than 400 ball games, 1,300 athletes and 80 teams from around the world.

It begins Saturday and runs until July 17 with the games being played at Surrey鈥檚 Softball City, Sunnyside Park and Cloverdale Athletic Park.

鈥淚 have been dreaming of playing for the national team, ever since I started playing softball,鈥� Ratel explained.

Ratel, whose father has British heritage, heard that Great Britain needed players for their junior (U19) national team, back in November.

So she enquired about the opportunity and joined the British squad back in May for the London Cup.

Ratel did not disappoint, cracking two home runs and leading the team in RBIs as they finished third.

She joined her new teammates earlier this week after they arrived in town and will stay with them at their hotel.

The squad consists of eight United Kingdom-based players and four from North America.

They are competing in the Futures Division of the tournament and will be up against Ratel鈥檚 usual squad, the Fraser Valley Fusion 94.

鈥淚t is really cool I am playing for the national team, but it is just another tournament,鈥� she said about her mindset for the event.

And as she has done so often for the Fusion, Ratel will be counted on to be a key cog in Great Britain鈥檚 offensive attack.

Ratel is a six-foot power hitter with a sweet swing. She is nicknamed 鈥楤ig Red鈥� for her stature and hair colour.

鈥淕enerally everyone knows me for my big hits,鈥� she said, adding she thinks her nickname suits her.

鈥淚 am the tallest redhead playing in our league.

鈥淚 come through when I need to.鈥�

Ratel hits for power and average 鈥� she has belted a dozen dingers out of the ball park and has a tidy .500 batting average.

The back-catcher was drawn to the game immediately.

鈥淚t is amazing to hit the ball,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou know when it is gone, that is probably the best part of it.

鈥淲hen you hit the ball right, there is no effort in it.鈥�

Fusion coach Craig Shurey, who has coached Ratel the past two seasons, says she brings a great work ethic along with her potent swing.

鈥淪he is always a threat to hit the ball over the fence,鈥� he said, adding that Ratel is very dependable and a hard worker.

One of the Fusion鈥檚 many leaders, Ratel always maintains a positive attitude and doesn鈥檛 get down when things aren鈥檛 going well, he said, which is a huge asset to the team.

As for her potential in the game 鈥� Ratel is entering her final year of high school at Walnut Grove Secondary and has begun receiving scholarship offers from U.S. post-secondary schools 鈥� Shurey sees lots.

鈥淚n my opinion, she is the hardest hitting girl her age in the province,鈥� he said. 鈥淣icole has great potential as she is blessed with size and strength.鈥�

鈥淣icole needs to continue to work hard on her hitting as that will be the key to her success.鈥�