Amie Hutchison, from North Park, will be joining the Eastern Florida State College in the autumn.

The 18-year-old, who is currently studying for a sports diploma at Easton College, was offered the £22,000-a-year place after sending a skills video to the US.

'I was over the moon, I can't wait to go,' said Miss Hutchison. 'They offered me the place and I said 'go for it'.'

After falling in love with the sport at a taster session at Fakenham High School six years ago, Miss Hutchison is now a member of the England softball squad and ranked its best pitcher.

Last year she joined a Netherlands team called Birds, played and trained with them in Holland and went to the Czech Republic in the European Super cup bringing home a silver medal.

She will be travelling to Breda, Netherlands in a Big League tournament with Team GB on July 13, while on July 26 she will be travelling to Barcelona for the Junior Women's European Championships. Longer term, she has her heart set on the 2020 Olympics.

Businesses in and around Fakenham have helped out with sponsorship towards her travel costs. Mum Lisa Hutchison said: 'We'd like to thank Bill Cleyndert and Company, Sarah Green, Chatsworth country fairs, Jaguar Land Rover, Dempsey Heating, Summerhill vets and Fakenham Rotary Club. Without their support it wouldn't be possible for Amie to attend all training sessions and competitions around the world.'