Stephenson elected to WBSC Athletes Commission

Veteran Women’s National Team athlete Ashley Stephenson (Mississauga, Ont.) has been elected to the World Softball Baseball Confederation (WBSC) Athletes Commission. Photo Credit: Baseball Canada

By Adam Morissette

Baseball Canada

OTTAWA - Veteran Women’s National Team athlete Ashley Stephenson has been elected to the World Softball Baseball Confederation (WBSC) Athletes Commission, the international federation announced on Thursday.

Stephenson, a native of Mississauga and the longest serving member of the Women’s National Team program, was one of three new members named to the commission joining Canadian Women’s National Softball Team member Erika Polidori and French Women’s National Softball Team member Pauline Prade.

Voting for the position took place in August by participants in the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup and also includes service to the WBSC Baseball Division Board.

“I am truly honoured to have been elected by my peers to the WBSC Baseball Division Board as an Athlete Representative and Member of the Athletes' Commission,” said Stephenson. “I look forward to working with the WBSC to promote and grow women's baseball.

“To my fellow athletes, I promise to represent you with pride and do everything in my power to be a positive voice and a driving force for our sport.”

The WBSC Athletes Commission now consists of six members including four females. Former Olympians and WBSC Executive Board members Justin Huber (Australia) and Maria Soto (Venezuela) currently serve as the Co-Chairs of the WBSC Athletes Commission, while New Zealand softball player Nathan Nukunuku is also a member of the commission.

“These three new WBSC Athletes Commission members bring in considerable international experience and knowledge,” said Co-Chairs Huber and Soto. “They will help ensure the voices and the will of the athletes are heard at the highest levels and that action is taken accordingly, as the sport continues to grow globally with over 65 million athletes in over 140 countries and territories around the world.”

Stephenson is one of the most decorated women’s baseball players in the world having helped Canada to five all-time Women’s Baseball World Cup medals including a bronze in August. She also has a Pan Am Games silver medal in her collection and is a two-time winner (2005, 2008) of the Women’s National Team Most Valuable Player award.