Team Canada Ready to Compete at 2018 WBSC Women’s Softball World Championship

Team Canada Ready to Compete at 2018 WBSC Women’s Softball World Championship

1 August 2018 Gilles LeBlanc

2018 WBSC Womens

Chiba, Japan – The Canadian Women’s National Team is ready to compete at the WBSC Softball World Championship that is being held August 2-12 in Chiba, Japan. The top finisher at the event – excluding Japan who is already guaranteed a spot as the host country – will earn a direct berth to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
 
Team Canada is coming into the World Championship on a high note after winning the Gold medal at the Canada Cup last week and going a perfect 5-0 in the Toyota Cup exhibition tournament against four Japanese professional softball teams and the Netherlands this past weekend.
 
The WBSC Women’s Softball World Championship will feature a total of 16 teams divided in two groups. The top four teams from each division will advance to the Championship round, with the top two from each division earning double life. Canada – No. 3 in the WBSC World Rankings – will compete in Group B along with No. 2 Japan, No. 4 Australia, No. 9 Italy, No. 12 China, No. 14 Great Britain, No. 17 Venezuela and No. 33 Botswana.
 
At the previous WBSC Women’s Softball World Championship held in Surrey, B.C. in 2016, Team Canada thrilled the hometown crowd and earned a Bronze medal finish.
 
Team Canada opens the tournament on Friday, August 3 with a doubleheader against Great Britain at 12:30pm JST (11:30pm EDT on Thursday August 2) and Venezuela at 6:00pm JST (5:00am EDT on Friday August 3).
 
The athletes who will represent Canada at the WBSC Women’s Softball World Championship from August 2-12 in Chiba, Japan are:

ATHLETES

FIRST NAME LAST NAME HOMETOWN
Jenna Caira Toronto, Ont.
Emma Entzminger Victoria, B.C.
Larissa Franklin Maple Ridge, B.C.
Jennifer Gilbert Saskatoon, Sask.
Victoria Hayward Toronto, Ont.
Karissa Hovinga Edmonton, Alta.
Kelsey Jenkins Delta, B.C.
Danielle Lawrie Langley, B.C.
Janet Leung Mississauga, Ont.
Joey Lye Toronto, Ont.
Sara Plourde Baker Lake, N.B.
Erika Polidori Brantford, Ont.
Kaleigh Rafter Guelph, Ont.
Jenn Salling Port Coquitlam, B.C.
Nicole Schroeder Yorba Linda, Calif.
Holly Speers Surrey, B.C.
Natalie Wideman Mississauga, Ont.

COACHING STAFF

POSITION NAME HOMETOWN
Head Coach Mark Smith Falmouth, N.S.
Assistant Coach Melissa Basilio Oshawa, Ont.
Assistant Coach Russell Cooper Tahiti Bay, NZL
Assistant Coach Dave Paetkau Abbotsford, B.C.
Performance Analyst Hubie Basilio Oshawa, Ont.
Performance Analyst Glenn Boles St. Catharines, Ont.
Strength & Conditioning Scott Willgress Halifax, N.S.
Mental Performance Lauren Tashman Pennington, N.J.
Athletic Therapist Natalie Ghobrial North York, Ont.
Team Leader Melissa Finley London, Ont.

UMPIRE

FIRST NAME LAST NAME HOMETOWN
Frankie Billingsley Edmonton, Alta.

TEAM CANADA SCHEDULE

DATE GAME TIME
August 3 Canada vs. Great Britain 12:30pm JST
  Canada vs. Venezuela 6:00pm JST
August 4 Canada vs. Italy 3:30pm JST
August 5 Canada vs. Australia 2:30pm JST
August 6 Canada vs. China 12:30pm JST
August 7 Canada vs. Japan 7:00pm JST
August 8 Canada vs. Botswana 3:30pm JST
August 10 Playoff Round TBD
August 11 Playoff Round TBD
August 12 Medal Round TBD
Live scoring will be available through the WBSC Women’s Softball World Championship website, with live streaming available at FloSoftball.com (paid subscription required).
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