OTTAWA- A group of baseball players will get a much-needed break from the long and cold Canadian winter beginning this weekend as the annual Girls Baseball Development Camp takes place in Cuba from February 14-21.
The camp offers players a chance to participate in daily practices and games against local Cuban competition with an emphasis on skill development. An equally important component of the week includes engaging in cultural activities that will see participants gain knowledge and understanding of Cuba and the Cuban people.
“This is a great camp for these athletes not only from a baseball perspective, but from a cultural perspective as well,” said Women’s National Team Manager André Lachance. “Players will benefit from playing against international competition in an environment that is foreign to them, while also receiving a great cultural experience off the baseball field.”
The camp is normally catered to players aged 14-18, but this year some hopeful members of the Women’s National Team will travel to Cuba looking to get a head start on the season. These players will coach the younger players early in the day before playing their own games against older competition in the afternoons.
“I have always enjoyed coaching so I am looking forward to helping out,” said veteran National Team player Amanda Asay. “I am always interested to see the up-and-comers in women's baseball and how the sport is growing and I am very excited to get a little baseball in for my own preparation and training.”
With an eye on the Pan Am Games in July, the trip to Cuba offers a chance for the veteran players to start their seasons early and face some good competition at a time of the year when they are normally working out indoors.
“(The) Cuba (trip) is going to be an excellent tool to help me prepare,” added Nicole Luchanksi who has been on the National Team since 2006. “I'll be able to take my preparation to the field and test it out in games, which I normally wouldn't be able to do at this time of year. Then I'll be able to make a list of specific weaknesses, and have the next 5 months to turn them into strengths.”
Both Asay and Luchanski have travelled to Cuba previously for baseball with each looking back on their trips with fond memories.
“We did some excursions around Havana and I learned a lot listening to our guide and trying to talk to the Cuban people,” said Luchanski. “A lot of their institutions are quite different from ours, and they have their own strengths and weaknesses.”
“Since my experience there and an additional one in 2012, I have learned a lot more about the day-to-day life of the Cuban people largely through the stories of our guide, dinners with the Cuban national team and team excursions to Havana,” explained Asay.
As for advice for first time travellers to Cuba, both players suggest a laid-back attitude and soaking in as much of the experience as possible.
“Fully engage in experiencing everything you can about Cuba and improving your weaknesses on the diamond,” said Luchanksi. “Take the week to put your phone down and really get to know your teammates - awesome girls (are) playing baseball all across the country.”
“I think the best approach is to try and stay laid back,” added Asay. “The people there are very generous and passionate about baseball and they will be fantastic hosts but it is a different country with a different culture and different conditions so you may not be prepared for some things that could happen but if you trust in the program and that the people there will do everything they can to make us comfortable you can relax, take in the culture and have a great trip.”
This year’s camp takes on extra-special meaning as it signifies the tenth anniversary of Baseball Canada bringing a group of female players to the island for a baseball series. Prior to 2005, the Cuban Baseball Federation did not have a girl’s baseball program.
“The girls program in Cuba has come a long way since 2005,” commented Lachance. “Their athletes and the teams that they put together each year are getting better and better.
“The trip down to Cuba has become a key component to our girl’s baseball program in Canada and we’re really looking forward to this year’s trip from a developmental, competitive and cultural standpoint.”
A special celebration to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Cuba/Canada girl’s baseball relationship will be held at the residence of the Canadian Ambassador to Cuba on February 18th.
Please follow Baseball Canada on Twitter (twitter.com/baseballcanada) for daily updates from the Girls Development Camp in Cuba.
February 14: Arrival
February 15: 9am-Practice (Group 1); 12pm–Practice (Group 2); 3pm-Practice (Group3)
February 16: 1pm Canada Red vs Cuba Rojo; 3pm Canada Black vs Cuba Azul
February 17: 1pm Canada Red vs Cuba Rojo; 3pm Canada White vs Cuba Azul
February 18: 1pm Canada Red vs Cuba Rojo; 3pm Canada Black vs Cuba Azul
February 19: 9am Canada Black vs Cuba Azul; 1pm Canada White vs Cuba Azul; 3pm Canada Red vs Cuba Rojo
February 20: 9am Canada Red vs Cuba Rojo; 1pm Canada Black vs Cuba Rojo; 3pm Canada White vs Cuba Azul
February 21: Departure
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