Baseball Canada announces 2024 Women’s National Team
Photo: Baseball Canada
July 18, 2024
Baseball Canada
OTTAWA - Baseball Canada is pleased to announce the names of 20 athletes that will represent Canada at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Women’s Baseball World Cup Finals in Thunder Bay from July 28 to August 3.
“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 for a World Championship.”
The announcement comes following the Women’s National Team Selection Camp that took place in Ottawa earlier this month.
Canada’s roster features 14 players who led the national program to a second-place finish at the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup Group A stage last year in Thunder Bay including Amy Johnson, Madison Willan, Sena Catterall, Lucie Anctil, Zoe Hicks, Kaitlyn Ross, Allison Schroder, Tess Sawkins, Raine Padgham, Emily Baxter, Ela Day-Bédard, Alizée Gélinas, Jaida Lee and Alexane Fournier.
Willan, Ross and Schroder are joined by returnees Liz Gilder and Mia Valcke who helped Canada to bronze medal finish the last time a women’s world champion was crowned at the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup in 2018.
A member of the 2019 squad that captured a bronze medal at the WBSC Americas Women’s Baseball World Cup Qualifier, Sophy Gagné was also named to the roster.
Three players named to the roster, Andréanne Leblanc, Cassie Matlock, and Michelle Roche, will be representing Canada for the first time in international competition at the Women’s Baseball World Cup.
Pluta heads a veteran coaching staff with years of playing and coaching experience on their resumes that include Patricia Landry, Aaron Myette, Kate Psota, and Ashley Stephenson.
Canada will open play against on July 28 at Port Arthur Stadium in Thunder Bay before taking on Japan, USA, Venezuela, and Chinese Taipei.
The World Championship Final and Bronze Medal game are scheduled for August 3.
Prior to the tournament, Canada will hold a training camp at Baseball Central in Thunder Bay from July 23-26 where they will play a pair of exhibition contests against the Thunder Bay Lakers on July 24 and USA on July 26 at Baseball Central. Both games are scheduled for 7 p.m. start times.