July 27, 2024

By Melissa Verge

Canadian Baseball Network

The best in baseball are in Thunder Bay, Ont. this week to play for gold at the Women’s Baseball World Cup.

Canada, ranked seventh in the world, will look to upset at the tournament, bringing an experienced roster in international competition to the field.

“I think we’re going to give everyone else a good run for their money,” manager Anthony Pluta said.

Notable veterans on the team include RHP Alli Schroder (Fruitvale, B.C.), centre field standout Sena Catterall (Pierrefonds, Que.), and their most valuable player in 2023, Zoe Hicks (Boissevain, Man.).

Here are 10 things to know ahead of the start of the tournament that begins Sunday.

1. Perhaps the most important thing to know about the Women’s Baseball World Cup this year is that it almost didn’t happen. It was thanks to a $300,000 contribution from Baseball Canada that the event was able to take place. They were unable to secure enough government funding to host the tournament, Baseball Canada CEO Jason Dickson said in a previous interview for Baseball Canada. Had it not moved forward, it “could potentially kill the women’s program forever,” Dickson said in that same interview earlier this month.

2. The last time the Women's Baseball World Cup was held was in 2018, Canada brought home a bronze medal. Alli Schroder, just 16 at the time, got the win on the mound against Team U.S.A. It was a battle on both sides, reaching 10 innings, with Canada scoring five in the 10th to secure the win 8-5.

3. Two of the Women’s National Team players have represented Canada in multiple sports. Zoe Hicks, Canada’s most valuable player in 2023, and Mia Valcke (St. Marys, Ont.), their shortstop. Both Hicks and Valcke have also represented Canada in softball, with Hicks traveling to Italy earlier this month for the Women's Softball World Cup. Hicks brought home a bronze medal, and will be looking to secure her second World Cup medal of the summer in Thunder Bay. She was a valuable part of their roster at the qualifiers last summer, hitting .667 with six runs in nine at-bats.

4. Canada goes into the tournament ranked seventh in the world, according to the World Baseball Softball Confederation.

5. Game play starts Sunday, with Canada taking the field against Mexico, ranked fifth in the world. This is Mexico’s first Women’s Baseball World Cup Finals. In their first meeting at the qualifiers last year, Canada defeated Mexico, outscoring them 9-1 after a lengthy rain delay.

6. Japan has won the World Cup six times, and is ranked first in the world going into the tournament. Last year in the qualifiers, they dominated, outscoring their opponents 47-5 and going undefeated, with a 5-0 record.

7. Canada is led by a high-caliber, veteran coaching staff going into the tournament. Manager Anthony Pluta played 11 seasons in the minor leagues, and joined Canada in 2021 as a pitching coach, taking over as manager in 2023. Coach Ashley Stephenson has been part of the program since its inception in 2004, and was recently inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. She’ll be taking a leave from her job as coach with the Vancouver Canadians to coach Canada in Thunder Bay. Coach Kate Psota played for Canada from 2004 to 2018, earning her a spot in the Burlington Sports Hall of Fame, and has since moved to her current coaching role. Aaron Myette played professional baseball for 10 years, including pitching six in the majors, and will be returning as the team's pitching coach. Patricia Landry has been coaching with the team since 2011. Landry also played with the Women’s National Team from 2005 to 2010, competing in two World Cups.

8. They may be entering the World Cup as underdogs, but Canada plays - and practices - with a lot of heart. “We are youthful and talented and will bring energy and fight to every game,” said coach Ashley Stephenson.

Players have trained for the World Cup in any way they can. Veteran Alli Schroder has even practiced by throwing against trees, in breaks from her job as a wildland firefighter in B.C.

9. Games will be played at Port Arthur Stadium in Thunder Bay. The stadium has capacity for 3,300 fans, and has been used to host baseball events in the past. Canada has already arrived, participating in a training camp before game play begins. It provides an opportunity to not only build team chemistry but to practice important on field plays, Stephenson said.

“We’ve covered some key tactical scenarios and had a chance to get some fundamental work in,” she said. “We are excited for the tournament to begin.”

10.You can follow the games at home here for free with Bolt+: https://boltplus.tv/home