Canada announces Olympic Softball Team roster for Tokyo 2020
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Softball Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee have revealed the roster of players who will play for the country at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The 15 athletes were selected by Softball Canada’s coaching staff, in accordance with the Women’s National Team Olympic Team Selection Process.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:ve30/twitter-iframe {"url":"https://twitter.com/SoftballCanada/status/1392479976927252486"} -->
<blockquote class="wp-block-ve30-twitter-iframe twitter-tweet" allowtransparency="0" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" width="auto"><a href="https://twitter.com/SoftballCanada/status/1392479976927252486"></a></blockquote>
<!-- /wp:ve30/twitter-iframe -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>The athletes named are:</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} -->
<ol><li>Jenna Caira </li><li>Emma Entzminger </li><li>Larissa Franklin </li><li>Jennifer Gilbert </li><li>Sara Groenewegen </li><li>Kelsey Harshman </li><li>Victoria Hayward </li><li>Danielle Lawrie </li><li>Janet Leung </li><li>Joey Lye </li><li>Erika Polidori </li><li>Kaleigh Rafter </li><li>Lauren Regula </li><li>Jennifer Salling </li><li>Natalie Wideman</li></ol>
<!-- /wp:list -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>The coaches named are:</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:list -->
<ul><li>Mark Smith - Head Coach</li><li>Lonni Alameda – Assistant Coach</li><li>Melissa Basilio – Assistant Coach</li><li>Chris Jones – Assistant Coach</li></ul>
<!-- /wp:list -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>“There is no greater privilege than to wear Canada across your chest and represent the most amazing country and fans,” said catcher Kaleigh Rafter. “For me, this is the last step in a 14-year journey that dates back to 2007. I want to give a big thank you to my family who has supported this dream of mine since the very beginning. I would also like to thank Softball Canada for their support of this team since it was removed from the Olympic program. Without their commitment, we would not be in the position we are in today.”</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Softball Canada has also named three alternate athletes: Karissa Hovinga, Callum Pilgrim and Morgan Rackel.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Canada will compete in their fifth Olympic Games softball event, along with No. 1 USA, No. 2 Japan, No. 5 Mexico, No. 8 Australia and No. 10 Italy. </p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Softball will take place from 21-27 July at Fukushima Azuma Baseball Stadium and Yokohama Baseball Stadium. Canada will open against Mexico on 21 July.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:html -->
<a href="https://olympicsoftball.wbsc.org/en/2021/e-2021-softball-olympic-games/schedule-and-results"><img src="https://static.wbsc.org/assets/cms/shares/Tokyo2020_Olympic_Softball_Schedule.jpg" alt="Tokyo 2020 – Olympic Softball Schedule" width="100%" height="auto"></a>
<!-- /wp:html -->
<!-- wp:html -->
<div style="height:20px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>
<!-- /wp:html -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>“The naming of the Olympic roster is another phase completed in our 2021 gold medal mission,” said pitcher Sara Groenewegen. “I am excited for the opportunity to represent Canada with the 14 other women named to the team...We are excited and ready for the chance to make history at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.”</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Canada is ranked third in the WBSC Women’s Softball World Rankings and has won three bronze medals over the last five WBSC Softball World Championships, including back-to-back bronze medals in 2016 and 2018. The team won gold at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games and captured silver medals at Guadalajara 2011 and Lima 2019.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Canada qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the 2019 WBSC Softball Americas Qualifier held on home soil in Surrey.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:html -->
<a href="https://olympicsoftball.wbsc.org/en/2021/e-2021-softball-olympic-games"><img src="https://static.wbsc.org/assets/cms/shares/Tokyo2020_-_Softball.JPG" alt="Tokyo 2020 – Olympic Softball" width="100%" height="auto"></a>
<!-- /wp:html -->