National team roster unveiled for 2018 WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup

Photo Credit: Baseball Canada

July 12, 2018

By Adam Morissette

Baseball Canada

OTTAWA-Baseball Canada is pleased to announce the names of 20 athletes that will represent Canada at the VIII Women’s Baseball World Cup® 2018 in Viera, Florida from August 22-31.

The announcement comes following a four-day selection camp where 26 athletes competed for 20 available spots on the team. The annual Women’s Invitational Championships in Montréal preceded Selection Camp where Ontario claimed the national title for the second consecutive year.

Canada, ranked No. 2 in the WBSC Women’s Baseball rankings, enters the event as the reigning silver medalists after reaching the world championship final before falling to five-time gold medalists and world No. 1 Japan. In seven all-time Women’s Baseball World Cup events Canada has won two silver (2008, 2016) and three bronze (2004, 2006, 2010) medals.

The roster features a mix of veteran players with plenty of international baseball experience, while a cast of newcomers will be making their international debuts at the world cup.

Leading the way are Kate Psota and Ashley Stephenson who will be competing in a record eighth Women’s Baseball World Cup. Psota and Stephenson are original members of the first-ever Women’s National Team that was assembled in 2004. Also named to the roster, and competing in their seventh Women’s Baseball World Cup, are Amanda Asay and Nicole Luchanski. 

“Selection Camp was very competitive making final roster decisions extremely challenging for our coaching staff,” said Women’s National Team Manager André Lachance. “With that said, we’re very pleased with the combination of veterans and youth players that will compete at the world cup. 

“Traditionally, we’ve always performed well at the world cup and the expectation is once again be in the mix for a medal in Florida.”

Canada will open the VIII Women’s Baseball World Cup® 2018 on August 22 against No. 10 Hong Kong before taking on No. 9 Cuba (08/23), No. 1 Japan (08/24), No. 4 Australia and unranked Dominican Republic as part of Group B in the Opening Round.

Group A will feature No. 3 USA, No. 5 Venezuela, No. 6 Chinese Taipei, No. 7 Korea, No. 8 Netherlands and unranked Puerto Rico.

Following the Opening Round, the top three finishers in each group will meet in the Super Round from August 28-30 before the World Championship Final and bronze medal games are contested on August 31.

Women’s National Team Roster Highlights:

-The veteran club returns 12 players (Amanda Asay, Niki Boyd, Claire Eccles, Jenna Flannigan, Daphnée Gélinas, Kelsey Lalor, Anne-Sophie Lavallée, Nicole Luckanski, Ella Matteucci, Kate Psota, Ashley Stephenson and Mia Valcke) who won a silver medal with Team Canada at the 2016 Women’s Baseball World Cup in Gijang, South Korea. Emma Carr (2014) and Hannah Martensen (2012, 2014), both named to the roster, have previous Women’s Baseball World Cup experience.

-Six players named to the squad (Liz Gilder, MacKinlee Kaulbach, Emma March, Kaitlyn Ross, Allison Schroder and Madison Willan) will be participating in their first WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup in Florida.

-The coaching staff features Manager André Lachance who returns for his eighth consecutive World Cup, while coaches Sheen Bromley (Third Base), Scott MacKenzie (First Base) Aaron Myette (Pitching) return from the staff that led Canada to a world cup silver medal in 2016. Karine Gagné, a veteran of four Women’s Baseball World Cups, joins the staff as an assistant coach after a guest coach appearance in 2017.

Schedule - WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup

Roster

Amanda Asay, British Columbia
Niki Boyd, British Columbia
Emma Carr, Ontario
Claire Eccles, British Columbia
Jenna Flannigan, Ontario
Daphnée Gélinas, Québec
Liz Gilder, British Columbia
MacKinlee Kaulbach, Alberta
Kelsey Lalor, Alberta
Anne-Sophie Lavallée, Québec
Nicole Luchanski, Alberta
Emma March, British Columbia
Hannah Martensen, Ontario
Ella Matteucci, British Columbia
Kate Psota, Ontario
Kaitlyn Ross, Alberta
Allison Schroder, British Columbia
Ashley Stephenson, Ontario
Mia Valcke, Ontario
Madison Willan, Alberta

Coaching Staff

André Lachance - Manager
Sheen Bromley – Third Base
Karine Gagné – Assistant Coach
Aaron Myette – Pitching Coach
Scott MacKenzie – First Base