OTTAWA-It was this time last year that our Women’s National Team program were a part of history, not only competing in the first ever women’s baseball competition at a major multi-sport games, but capturing a silver medal after coming up short against the United States in the gold medal game.
“Last year was great, it was historic for our program to compete and win a medal at an event like the Pan Ams,” said Women’s National Team Manager André Lachance. “I think (women’s baseball) got some well deserved exposure and proved that we can play the game at a high level.”
For Lachance, his coaching staff and hopeful players, the focus now moves towards the upcoming WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup that will take place in Gijang City, Korea, September 3-11. The women’s program is coming off a fourth place finish the last time a world cup event was held in 2014 – a result that Lachance hopes to improve on.
“We weren’t satisfied with not coming home with a medal in 2014 so the goal is to get in the medals in Korea,” he said. “Traditionally, we’re always a medal contender at the world cup and I can’t see why this year would be any different.”
Since the inception of the Women’s Baseball World Cup in 2004, the Women’s National Team has come away with three bronze medals (2004, 2006, 2012) and silver after reaching the championship contest against Japan in 2008. The event in Korea will be the seventh edition of the tournament.
“We’ve been fortunate since the start to field competitive teams with a mix of veteran players and newcomers,” explained Lachance, who has managed the team at each World Cup since the first one in ’04. “I think having quality veterans is a big key to our success as they’ve been through the events before, they know what to expect and they do a great job of helping new players feel a part of the group.”
As with most years, Lachance and his staff will be tasked with filling roster spots of some veteran players who have retired or are unable to play this season. This year, more than other, the void will be felt up the middle with the absence of catcher Stéphanie Savoie, starting pitcher Vanessa Riopel and shortstop Bradi Wall.
“It’s never easy to replace those players, but, in sports, it means it’s an opportunity for someone else to step up and win a job, and perform on the field,” added Lachance. “I’m confident that we have some younger players in our system that can step in hold their own in those roles, and we definitely still have the veterans in place that can show them the way.”
The prospects for future editions of the squad look bright in part to the successful Girl’s Baseball Development Camps that have taken place in Cuba each year since 2010, while just last month, Lachance led a U-20 national squad to four dominating wins en route to capturing the inaugural Women’s International Cup in the Dominican Republic.
“Our program has come such a long way in 12 years and events like the Cuba camp and the tournament in the Dominican give us an opportunity to identify and develop future National Team players earlier in the process,” continued Lachance.
Roster changes won’t be the only place for change when it comes to the Women’s National Team as Lachance has added a pair of experienced coaches to round out his staff. Former big leaguer and former National Team player Aaron Myette will handle Pitching Coach duties, while Scott MacKenzie will be bring his experience to the coaching staff as an assistant.
“We’re very pleased to add both Aaron and Scott to the staff,” said Lachance. “Aaron’s experience in the game and knowledge will be a huge plus for our pitchers and Scott has been involved with our program in the past and is ready to jump into a fulltime role.”
For Lachance, Myette, MacKenzie and returning coaches Sheen Bromley and Patricia Landry, player evaluations will take place August 25-28 in Red Deer, Alberta at the Senior Women Invitational where 20 athletes will be chosen to represent Canada at the World Cup in Korea.
“The Senior Women event is coming quick and we’ll (coaching staff) will have our work cutout for us to select the final roster,” added Lachance. “After that it will be a quick turnaround before the tournament begins on September 3rd.”
