Baseball Canada announces 2023 Women’s National Team
Photo: Baseball Canada
July 31, 2023
Baseball Canada
HALIFAX, N.S. - Baseball Canada is pleased to announce the names of the 20 athletes that will represent Canada at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Women’s Baseball World Cup Group A in Thunder Bay, Ont., from August 8 to August 13.
“We are really happy with the group of players that have been selected to represent Canada in Thunder Bay,” said Women’s National Team manager Anthony Pluta. “The talent level of the players selected speaks to the quality of athlete in Canada. We can’t wait to get to Thunder Bay and compete with this group.”
The announcement comes following the Women’s National Championships that took place in Halifax and Upper Sackville, N.S. with nine teams competing, representing seven provinces.
Canada is led by veterans Kaitlyn Ross, Allison Schroder and Madison Willan who bring previous international competition to their resumes including participation at the 2018 WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup where they helped Canada win a bronze medal. The trio returned to the national team in 2019 helping Canada win a bronze medal at the WBSC Americas Women’s Baseball World Cup Qualifier along with Sena Catterall, Alexane Fournier and Stacy Fournier who have also been named to the roster.
In 2022, Thunder Bay played host to the five-game, Canada/USA Friendship Series that will see 12 players who wore the Maple Leaf at the event return to the city for the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup Group A stage.
Returnees include: Mena Florio, Alizée Gélinas, Zoe Hicks, Amy Johnson, Julia Konigshofer, Raine Padgham, Tess Sawkins along with Catterall, Alexane Fournier, Stacy Fournier, Schroder and Willan.
Seven players named to the roster that will be representing Canada for the first time including Lucie Anctil, Emily Baxter, Ela Day-Bédard, Jaida Lee, Justine Marin, Emma-Rose Payette and Sarah Pengelly.
Pluta, will be joined on the Women’s National Team coaching staff with pitching coach Chris Begg along with coaches Patricia Landry and Kate Psota.
Canada will open play against Mexico on August 8 at Baseball Central in Thunder Bay before taking on Hong Kong, USA, South Korea, and Australia.
In addition to Canada’s opening game against Mexico, the August 9 contest versus Hong Kong-China will also be played at Baseball Central before the tournament shifts to Port Arthur Stadium for the remainder of the event.
Prior to the event, Canada will hold a training camp in Halifax, N.S. on August 1 and 2 before shifting to Thunder Bay from August 4 to August 7 where they will play a pair of exhibition contests against the Thunder Bay Lakers on August 5 and 6 at Baseball Central (7:30 p.m. E.T.).
Currently ranked as the No. 3 nation in the world based on the latest WBSC world rankings, the Women’s National Team will be playing in its first, sanctioned international baseball competition since the 2019 WBSC Americas Women’s Baseball World Cup qualifier.
For more information on the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup Group A, visit the tournament website here.