Tuesday, September 7, 2004

Magalas Named to York University Team

Women’s National Team Member to Play for Men’s Baseball Team

OTTAWA - Baseball Canada's women's national team member Samantha Magalas (Burlington, Ont.) has been selected to play for the York University baseball team.

"It's going to be a great opportunity to play with the guys," says Magalas, a 22-year-old first baseman, adding she plans to use the experience as training for future women's national team events and hopes her involvement will spur further activity among female players in baseball.

"It can only help with other girls getting involved," she says. "I hope other girls will start playing."

Final cuts for the York University Lions' baseball team will take place at a 7 p.m. practice tonight but head coach Colin Cummins has already confirmed Magalas' selection to the team.

"It didn't take me long to realize she's a heck of a player," says Cummins. "She's an amazing athlete with a great attitude. You can't hold a talent like that back."

Cummins, entering his fourth year as the Lions' head coach, has been evaluating about 50 players at tryouts over the past month and plans on carrying 30 players on his roster.

The Lions play in the Canadian Intercollegiate Baseball Association, a 22-team collection of Canadian university and college baseball teams holding varsity and competitive club status.

Magalas spent this summer as part of Baseball Canada's inaugural women's national team, which won the bronze medal at the first-ever IBAF World Cup of Women's Baseball, held July 30-Aug. 8 in Edmonton, Alta.

"Samantha deserves this opportunity a great deal and we're very proud of her," says André Lachance, manager of Baseball Canada's women's national team. "She's a true leader and a gifted athlete, and she's bound to strengthen the Lions' lineup while doing nothing but improve her own game."

York this season will play in a conference that includes the Carleton Ravens, Durham Lords, George Brown Huskies, Queen's Golden Gaels and the University of Ottawa Gee Gees.

Magalas is scheduled to start in the Lions' first game, which will take place Sept. 11 when York hosts a doubleheader against George Brown College to begin its 14-game 2004 schedule.