CARY, N.C. – USA Baseball today named the coaching staff for the 2023 Women’s National Team. The staff is highlighted by three returning members from 2022, including 2019 Rod Dedeaux Coach of the Year and five-time Team USA player Veronica Alvarez as manager. Reynol Mendoza and Alex Oglesby return to their roles as pitching coach and assistant coach, respectively, and 11-time Team USA player Malaika Underwood will make her coaching debut as she joins the team as an assistant coach.

The staff will lead the Women’s National Team in 2023 at the IX World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Women’s Baseball World Cup group stage, which will take place from August 8-13 in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The team most recently played on the international stage last year when it defeated Canada in a five-game international friendship series in Thunder Bay.

“We are thrilled to have Veronica, Reynol, and Alex back to guide our Women’s National Team, and to add Malaika to the staff, as we return to World Cup action in 2023,” USA Baseball Director of Baseball Operations Ann Claire Roberson said. “Every one of these coaches brings an incredible amount of baseball knowledge and experience to this program that will be instrumental in not only the pursuit of a gold medal but also the growth and development of all of our athletes both on and off the field. We are confident that they will represent this organization and the U.S. exceptionally well at the helm of Team USA, and we cannot wait to get started.”

Alvarez has been named Women’s National Team manager on three previous occasions (2019, 2020, and 2022). In 2019, she became the first female recipient of the USA Baseball Rod Dedeaux Coach of the Year award for her efforts in leading the Women’s National Team to a gold medal in the COPABE Women’s Pan-American Championships. The team finished with a perfect 7-0 record and outscored its opponents 124-20, a performance that led to the team being named USA Baseball’s 2019 Team of the Year.

Beyond just her managerial career, Alvarez has donned the red, white, and blue in several roles. She served as Field Coordinator at the Women’s National Team Development Program and the inaugural USA Baseball Girls Camp in 2021, worked on the 2018 staff as an assistant coach, and played for Team USA on five separate occasions. As a player, she medaled at every international competition she featured in, including a gold medal at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games, a silver medal at the 2012 WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup, and bronze medals at the 2008 and 2010 IBAF Women’s Baseball World Cups.

Alvarez, who is currently the Coordinator of Player Development in Latin America for the Oakland A’s, has also continued to help grow the game of women’s baseball through programs created from the collaboration between Major League Baseball and USA Baseball, aimed at fostering the next generation of female baseball players in the United States. She has also been a coach at the Trailblazer Series since 2017, the Girls Baseball Breakthrough Series Showcase & Development Camp since 2018, and the Girls Baseball Elite Development Invitational from 2020-2022.

“I am proud to once again serve as the manager of the Women’s National Team because I am proud of the women that I get to lead,” said Alvarez. “Since our last international competition in 2019, we have taken advantage of every opportunity that we have been given to develop our players, elevate our level of play as a team, and grow the game. It’s been incredible to witness how the players have stayed focused and have continued to challenge themselves and each other during uncertain times. We are eager to finally showcase the work we’ve done, both physically and mentally, on and off the field in pursuit of our goal to be the best in the world.”

Mendoza returns as Team USA’s pitching coach after previously serving in the role in both 2019 and 2022. During the 2019 team’s run to a gold medal at the COPABE Women’s Pan-American Games, he helped coach its pitchers to a collective 3.16 ERA and .255 batting average against in 37 innings of work. Mendoza is also the head coach at Eagle Pass High School (Eagle Pass, Texas), where he has led the Eagles to 15 consecutive playoff appearances and three regional finals appearances in 2013, 2014, and 2021. Prior to coaching, Mendoza played seven seasons in the Miami Marlins’ minor league system after being drafted in the seventh round of the 1992 MLB Draft.

Oglesby also returns to Team USA as an assistant coach after working in the position in 2019 and 2022. Oglesby was a member of the inaugural Women’s National Team that won a gold medal at the IBAF Women’s Baseball World Cup in 2004, where she was named to the All-Tournament Team. Before representing Team USA, she played in the Ladies Professional Baseball League and was the league’s youngest player when it began in 1997. At just 17 years old, Oglesby led the San Jose Spitfires to the league’s first World Series Championship and was named both Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year for her efforts. She also helped form the California Women’s Baseball League in 2002, where she earned MVP honors twice.

Oglesby has also been a member of the coaching staff at the USA Baseball Girls Camp in 2021, the Women’s National Team Trials and Women’s National Open in 2018, and the Trailblazer Series since 2017. In addition to these events, she coached at the first-ever Major League Baseball and USA Baseball GRIT in 2019.

Underwood makes her debut on the Women’s National Team staff as an assistant coach after recently concluding one of the most successful playing careers in USA Baseball history. From her debut in 2006 through her final appearance in 2022, Underwood played on a Team USA-record 11 national teams and medaled at eight different international competitions. She won four total gold medals, including at the 2006 Women’s Baseball World Cup, the 2015 Pan American Games Qualifier and Pan American Games, and the 2019 COPABE Pan-American Championships. In addition to these, she also earned two silver medals at the 2012 and 2014 IBAF Women’s Baseball World Cups and two bronze medals at the 2008 and 2010 World Cups.

Along with all of her team success, Underwood achieved many different individual accomplishments while playing for Team USA. She was named to the Women’s Baseball World Cup All-Tournament Team in both 2008 and 2014, and she earned the USA Baseball Sportswoman of the Year award in 2015. Underwood also holds the Women’s National Team record for most hits, runs, RBIs, and stolen bases in a career, as well as the record for most hits in a single game with five.

The 2023 Women’s National Team schedule begins with the Women’s National Open, which will take place from July 7-9 at Riverview Baseball Complex – the Spring Training facility for the Chicago Cubs in Mesa, Arizona – and serve as the primary identification event for Team USA. Players from around the country will be divided into teams and compete in games and workout sessions, where they will be evaluated by the national team coaching staff. Registration for the event is open to female baseball players born in 2007 or earlier.

At the end of the Women’s National Open, a minimum of 35 players will be selected by the coaching staff to participate in the Women’s National Team Training Camp, which will take place from July 10-13 at Riverview Baseball Complex. Once Training Camp concludes, 20 women will be chosen to represent Team USA at the IX WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup group stage starting on August 8.

The USA Baseball Women’s National Team has medaled in six of the eight WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cups since the tournament’s inception in 2004. The U.S. earned gold in the first two editions of the event in 2004 and 2006, posting a 10-2 combined record. After winning bronze medals in 2008 and 2010, the stars and stripes claimed silver in 2012 and 2014. Overall, the Women’s National Team owns five gold medals in international competition, most recently earning a first-place finish at the 2019 COPABE Women’s Pan-American Championships.

CARY, N.C. – The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) announced today that Team USA received a wild card bid into the IX WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup. The event will span two years and begins with the group stage, where the U.S. will participate in Group A from August 8-13 in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. The top three teams from both groups will advance to the IX WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup Finals in 2024.

"We are excited to have received a bid to the upcoming Women’s Baseball World Cup,” said Women’s National Team Program Director Ann Claire Roberson. “Since competing in our last international tournament in 2019, our program has only gotten stronger and is poised to compete for another gold medal. We look forward to beginning the identification process and building a world championship-caliber team.”

The USA Baseball Women’s National Team has medaled in six of the eight WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cups since the tournament’s inception in 2004. The U.S. earned gold in the first two editions of the event in 2004 and 2006, posting a 10-2 combined record. After winning bronze medals in 2008 and 2010, the stars and stripes claimed silver in 2012 and 2014. Overall, the Women’s National Team owns five gold medals in international competition, most recently earning a first-place finish at the 2019 COPABE Women’s Pan-American Championships.

The Women’s National Team identification process will take place at the USA Baseball Women’s National Open from July 7-9. The event is open to female baseball players born in 2007 or earlier. Players will be divided into teams and compete in games and workout sessions, where they will be evaluated by the national team coaching staff. At the conclusion of the event, the coaching staff will select a minimum of 35 players from the Women’s National Open to participate in the Women’s National Team Training Camp.

Training Camp will take place immediately following the Women’s National Open from July 10-13, where 20 women will be selected to represent Team USA in the IX WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup group stage.

The location for the Women’s National Open and Training Camp will be announced at a later date.

The IX WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup group stage will include two groups made up of 12 nations. The U.S. will compete in Group A in Thunder Bay, Ontario, while Group B will be held in Miyoshi City, Japan. The U.S. is the ninth team to qualify for the group stage, joining Australia, Canada, Cuba, France, Japan, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela. The final three countries will qualify at the Asia Qualifier in May. The top three finishers from the group stage will advance to the IX WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup Finals in 2024, also set to take place in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.

CARY, N.C. – USA Baseball and USA Baseball Sports Properties within LEARFIELD today announced an exclusive multi-year relationship with Chinook Seedery to become the Official Sunflower Seed Supplier for the organization. Through this relationship, Chinook Seedery will supply sunflower seeds for all USA Baseball national team and national team development programs.

Additionally, Chinook Seedery will also supply promotional items to USA Baseball for its foul ball program. Beginning in 2023, fans will receive a complimentary pack of sunflower seeds when they return a foul ball during USA Baseball events at the National Training Complex.

"USA Baseball is pleased to name Chinook Seedery the Official Sunflower Seed Supplier for the organization,” said USA Baseball Chief Operating Officer David Perkins. “Chinook Seedery produces a flavorful variety of healthy snacks that will help fuel USA Baseball national team and national team development program athletes. We appreciate their support and look forward to collaborating with them to develop future sunflower seed flavors.”

"Few things are more Americana than baseball and sunflower seeds. Chinook's partnership with USA Baseball is a natural fit that is only bolstered by our recent flavor collaboration with Team USA alum Bobby Witt Jr. We could not be more excited to bring the 'best seeds ever' to the best ballplayers in our great country," said Chinook Seedery Founder Mark Pettyjohn.

Launched in 2020, USA Baseball Sports Properties within LEARFIELD is dedicated to representing USA Baseball by developing and managing sponsor relationships with brands looking to align with USA Baseball and its events and programming.

About Chinook Seedery

Based in Austin, Texas, Chinook Seedery is the country's fastest-growing sunflower seed brand, providing a "better-for-you option" that is lower in sodium, non-GMO certified, gluten-free, and Keto friendly. Chinook combines a unique small-batch process with the largest, most premium seeds grown in the US, resulting in the "best seeds ever.” For more information or to try the product, visit http://www.chinookseedery.com, or follow us on Instagram (@chinookseedery), Facebook (@chinookseedery), and Twitter (@chinookseedery).

CARY, N.C. – USA Baseball today named its annual organizational award winners, recognizing the top athletes, coaches, and performances from its 2022 USA Baseball national teams and development programs. 18U National Team member Bryce Eldridge is the Richard W. “Dick” Case Award winner, the fifth 18U National Team alumnus to earn athlete of the year honors since 2011. The award is given annually to USA Baseball’s top player in honor of the organization’s founding Executive Director and CEO.

The 18U National Team collected honors in three additional categories in 2022, boasting Rod Dedeaux Coach of the Year Denny Hocking, International Performance of the Year winner Christian Rodriguez, and “Doc” Counsilman Science Award recipient Adam Moseley.

Seven-time Women’s National Team alumna Kelsie Whitmore is the 2022 Sportswoman of the Year, the 12U National Team earned Team of the Year honors, and Mike Bianco capped off an incredible 2022 by being named the USA Baseball College Coach of the Year.

The Developmental Coach of the Year Award went to 15U National Team Manager Drew Briese, and the Volunteer Coach of the Year honor went to André Butler. Rounding out the awards in 2022 is Coach Educator of the Year Bill Krejci, and Daisy Nelson, the organization’s Service Provider of the Year.

“It is our honor to recognize a group of talented people for their tremendous performances both on and off the field,” said USA Baseball Executive Director and CEO Paul Seiler. “2022 will go down as one of the most successful years in USA Baseball history. Our national teams combined to win four gold medals, three world championships, an international friendship series, and a bronze medal, and the efforts of this group of esteemed individuals were paramount to achieving such unrivaled success this year.”

The complete list of the 2022 USA Baseball organizational award winners is as follows:

• Richard W. “Dick” Case Award: Bryce Eldridge, 18U National Team
• Rod Dedeaux Coach of the Year: Denny Hocking, 18U National Team
• Sportswoman of the Year: Kelsie Whitmore, Women’s National Team
• International Performance of the Year: Christian Rodriguez, 18U National Team
• Team of the Year: 12U National Team
• College Coach of the Year: Mike Bianco, Collegiate National Team
• Developmental Coach of the Year: Drew Briese, 15U National Team
• Volunteer Coach of the Year: André Butler
• Coach Educator of the Year: Bill Krejci
• “Doc” Councilman Science Award: Adam Moseley, 18U National Team
• Service Provider of the Year: Daisy Nelson

Bryce Eldridge earned Richard W. “Dick” Case Player of the Year honors after putting together a dynamic performance at the plate and on the mound at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-18 Baseball World Cup. The two-way star was named Tournament MVP after batting .316 with three homers and 13 RBIs – both tournament highs – and going 1-0 with a spotless 0.00 ERA and one save in three appearances as a pitcher. The Vienna, Virginia, native picked up at least one hit in five of his seven games at the plate and allowed just one hit over three innings pitched. Eldridge delivered in a major way in the first and last games of the tournament, kicking off the World Cup with a grand slam as part of a five-RBI game to beat the Netherlands in the tournament opener. Then, after leading the U.S. offense throughout the tournament, Eldridge cranked a three-run blast in the top of the seventh of the gold medal game before getting the final three outs on the mound as Team USA beat Chinese Taipei to secure its ninth world championship.

Rod Dedeaux Coach of the Year Denny Hocking led the U.S. to its ninth world championship at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup in Bradenton and Sarasota, Florida, and followed that up by leading another 18U National Team to gold at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup Americas Qualifier. Under his guidance in his Team USA managerial debut, the U.S. claimed a world title on its home soil. The 13-year MLB veteran pushed all the right buttons throughout the World Cup as the U.S. went 8-1 en route to a gold medal. Hocking demonstrated his leadership ability by guiding the U.S. to two wins on the final day. Team USA scored 68 runs – its most at a World Cup since 2015 – and struck out 73 batters to lead the tournament. With the gold medal victory over Chinese Taipei, the United States captured its fifth world title in the last six editions of the event. A second 18U National Team under the guidance of Hocking then traveled to Mexico to qualify for next year’s U-18 Baseball World Cup in Taiwan. Not only did the team qualify, but the U.S. left with a gold medal after outscoring its opponents 79-24, hitting .348, and tallying 10 home runs. In total, Hocking led the 18U National Team program to two gold medals and an overall 16-1 record in 2022.

Sportswoman of the Year Kelsie Whitmore made her seventh career appearance for the Women's National Team this past summer. She played a vital role in helping the stars and stripes clinch their friendship series against Canada in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Whitmore started all five games – two on the mound, one as the designated hitter, and two in the outfield – and tallied at least one hit in four games. In the series opener, Whitmore was lights out as she was a double short of the cycle, going 3-for-3 with four RBIs, while pitching 4.2 innings of shutout ball. She led all players in the series with seven runs, eight hits, 10 RBIs, and a 1.000 slugging percentage. Along with her accomplishments with Team USA, Whitmore made history this spring by becoming the first female to play baseball in a league affiliated with Major League Baseball, making her professional debut with the Staten Island FerryHawks on April 21. She made 39 appearances in her rookie season in the Atlantic League.

Trailing Japan 3-2 in the third inning with the bases loaded and no outs in a Super Round game that would send Team USA to the gold medal game with a win, a torrential downpour set the stage for what would become the 2022 USA Baseball International Performance of the Year. The 18U National Team called on Christian Rodriguez out of the bullpen for the restart the morning after. Rodriguez needed just 13 pitches to strike out the Japan side and strand his three inherited base runners to keep the game within one and the U.S. within striking distance of a berth in the final. He would follow his masterful third inning with four more shutout innings, striking out seven batters, before his teammates would rally for the 4-3 walk-off victory. Rodriguez's performance set the tone for Team USA on the final day of the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup as the red, white, and blue capped off the event that afternoon with its ninth world championship following a 5-1 victory over Chinese Taipei in the finale.

The 12U National Team traveled to Taiwan in August and returned home with its fourth world championship in program history, earning gold at the WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup and later being named the 2022 USA Baseball Team of the Year. Amidst strict Covid-19 protocols, the team was required to quarantine in its hotel for three days, but it was not enough to deter the red, white, and blue, as they took care of business by going a perfect 8-0 in tournament play and becoming the first team in 12U National Team history to go unbeaten at the World Cup. After posting four wins in the Opening Round, the U.S. opened the Super Round with a walk-off win over Mexico and a victory over Chinese Taipei before taking down Venezuela twice to claim the title. Team USA clubbed 27 home runs and outscored its opponents 99-31. Seven players for the gold-medal-winning squad earned spots on the All-World Team after the tournament, including Colin Anderson, who was named Tournament MVP. The U.S. now boasts four U-12 Baseball World Cup titles, the most in the world.

Ole Miss Head Coach and 2022 Collegiate National Team Manager Mike Bianco collected plenty of hardware in 2022 to earn USA Baseball College Coach of the Year honors. Bianco led Ole Miss to its first-ever national championship as the Rebels went the distance at the 2022 College World Series. After posting a 42-23 record in regular season play, his squad won the Coral Gables Regional and the Hattiesburg Super Regional before knocking off Oklahoma to win the national championship. Bianco then took the reins as manager of the Collegiate National Team and led the U.S. to a bronze medal at Honkbalweek in Haarlem, Netherlands. Competing against nations featuring numerous players with professional baseball experience, Team USA beat Japan in the bronze medal game, 5-1. The U.S. pitching staff posted a 0.70 ERA in the tournament, the lowest team ERA in Collegiate National Team history.

Developmental Coach of the Year Drew Briese made his managerial debut this past summer with the 15U National Team and led Team USA to its second-straight gold medal at the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup in Hermosillo, Mexico. Under his guidance, the squad posted an 8-1 record, highlighted by back-to-back wins over Cuba in the semifinal and gold-medal games, as Team USA outscored its opponents 99-30 in the tournament. Briese played an instrumental role in the development of the players with his wealth of knowledge and experience at the youth and collegiate levels of baseball, helping them to prepare for the next level of their careers.

André Butler's impact in four significant events and national team programs for USA Baseball this year led to him being named the Volunteer Coach of the Year. He was a member of the Task Force at the USA Baseball National Team Championships, aiding in identifying players for the National Team Development Programs (NTDP), and a coach at the 16U/17U NTDP, where he helped prepare those kids for a future national team opportunity. Butler was also on the coaching staff at the PDP League and the 18U National Team Training Camp, where he helped identify and develop a group of athletes that would go on to win the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup in September - its ninth in program history. Additionally, eight members of the 16U/17U NTDP later went on to win a gold medal at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup Americas Qualifier in Mexico in November.

Coach Educator of the Year Bill Krejci has been involved with USA Baseball for nearly three decades as a coach and instructor for national teams and developmental programs, and most recently as a part of the Fun At Bat program. With the Fun At Bat program, he has impacted the growth of baseball among youth, serving as a lead instructor at numerous teacher training sessions and as a lead clinician at multiple USA Baseball Homegrown Clinics in 2022. Krejci spends his time with USA Baseball demonstrating the fundamentals of the game to physical education teachers from across the country, helping them implement it into their everyday curriculum. In 2022, his service to USA Baseball has reached more than 100 teachers and 50,000 students in eight school districts using Fun At Bat and over 200 kids who attended a Homegrown Clinic.

"Doc" Counsilman Award recipient Adam Moseley is one of the foremost leaders within the USA Baseball coaching community to use scientific data and state-of-the-art technology as part of his coaching. Under his guidance as the pitching coach for the 18U National Team at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup, Moseley helped lead the U.S. to its ninth world championship thanks to his tireless work using analytical data and ball flight analysis. Not only did his commitment to data allow him to scout opponents in a tournament setting, but he was also able to utilize data from PDP Performance Assessments and Trackman to aid in identifying and selecting the roster for the 18U National Team. Team USA scored 68 runs – its most at a World Cup since 2015 – and struck out 73 batters to lead the tournament.

Daisy Nelson is an unsung hero for the tremendous success of USA Baseball and its many athletes. Nelson has been responsible for staffing and training certified athletic trainers for USA Baseball national teams, training camps, and identification events since 2016. Her contributions, and the extension of her work through USA Baseball's certified athletic trainers, contributed to an unprecedented run of success for the U.S. this year as the stars and stripes won four gold medals, three world championships, a friendship series, and a bronze medal in 2022.

The following is a personal reflection of Women's National Team member Kelsie Whitmore about her journey to becoming a professional baseball player.

She became the first female to play in the Atlantic League when she made her professional debut on April 21, 2022. She is also the first woman to play in a league associated with Major League Baseball since 1994.

Box Score | PxP | Cumulative Stats

THUNDER BAY, Ontario – USA Baseball’s Women’s National Team was unable to overcome an early deficit in its series finale with Canada on Monday afternoon at Baseball Central in Thunder Bay, Ontario, as it suffered an 8-4 loss.

Despite the setback in the final game, the United States managed to clinch the series and finish with a 3-2 record, while Canada closed out the week with a 2-3 ledger.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Canada plated eight runs on as many hits and an error in the first inning, and proved to be all it needed to secure the win over the U.S. With the bases loaded on one out, the squad managed to string together six base hits in seven at bats to score the eight runs.
• After four scoreless innings, the Stars and Stripes made a four-run surge in the sixth on four hits to cut its deficit in half. Kelsie Whitmore started the inning with a single through the left side, and then scored on Jade Gortarez’s double up the right field line to put her team on the board. After Gortarez moved to third on a groundout and Anna Kimbrell drew a walk, Jillian Albayati’s pinch-hit RBI single to center field followed by Alex Hugo’s two-run double to center field brought the other three runs across.
• The U.S. looked to force extra innings in the seventh by putting a runner in scoring position after Kelsie Whitmore reached on a hit-by-pitch and stole second, but a fly out to left field ended the threat.

OF NOTE

• Kelsie Whitmore and Jade Gortarez tallied two hits each in the contest, while Alex Hugo drove in a team-best two runs batted in.
• Kelsie Whitmore was charged with the loss after surrendering eight earned runs in two innings pitched, while Canada’s Allison Schroder was credited with the win after tossing six complete innings and tallying five strikeouts.
• USA’s Marti Sementelli and Meggie Meidlinger combined to yield just two hits in four shutout innings of relief.

SOCIAL MEDIA

• Stay tuned to @USABaseballWNT on Twitter for the most up-to-date news about the 2022 Women's National Team.

Box Score | PxP | Cumulative Stats

THUNDER BAY, Ontario – USA Baseball’s Women’s National Team scored three runs in the first inning and never looked back as it defeated Canada on Sunday afternoon in shutout fashion, 7-0, at Baseball Central in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

With the win, the United States clinches the friendship series and improves to 3-1 while Canada moves to 1-3.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The U.S. jumped out to a 3-0 lead on three hits in the first inning. Malaika Underwood and Kylee Lahners stared the spark with an infield single and hit-by-pitch, respectively, and Kelsie Whitmore drove in the first run with a double to right field to send Underwood home from second. Jillian Albayati made it 2-0 when her RBI groundout scored Lahners from third and then Jade Gortarez’s RBI single up the middle easily sent Whitmore home to plate the third run.
• The bats were quiet for both teams until the fifth inning when the Stars and Stripes broke it open and made it 6-0. Alex Hugo drew a leadoff walk and then Malaika Underwood and Kylee Lahners each singled to load the bases for Kelsie Whitmore, who cleared the bases with a double to left field.
• USA tacked on its final run of the game in the sixth inning to make it 7-0. After Ashton Lansdell and Remi Schaber drew walks, Malaika Underwood tallied her third hit of the game with a long single to right field to score Lansdell from second.

OF NOTE

• Starting pitcher Jillian Albayati was phenomenal on the mound, tossing five shutout innings with three strikeouts to pick up the win.
• Jamie Baum and Kate Blunt each threw an inning in relief to combine for the shutout. In total, the trio held Canada to five hits.
• Canada’s Alexane Fournier was dealt the loss after allowing five earned runs in 4.1 innings pitched.
• At the plate, Malaika Underwood led all players with a 3-for-4 outing, including a run batted in and two runs scored.
• Kelsie Whitmore and Jade Gortarez also tallied two hits apiece, as Whitmore drove in a game-high four RBIs.
• Through four games, the U.S. has outscored Canada, 38-13.

ON DECK

• The teams will conclude its friendship series on Monday, August 1, for game five. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. ET at Baseball Central in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

SOCIAL MEDIA

• Stay tuned to @USABaseballWNT on Twitter for the most up-to-date news about the 2022 Women's National Team.

Box Score | PxP | Cumulative Stats

THUNDER BAY, Ontario – USA Baseball’s Women’s National Team was unable to overcome a six-run surge in the sixth by Canada on Saturday as it fell 10-8 in the third game of the friendship series between the teams.

Held at Baseball Central in Thunder Bay, Ontario, the U.S. drops to 2-1 in the series while Canada collects its first win to improve to 1-2.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Alex Hugo put the U.S. on the board in the first when she scored on a double play after leading off the game with an outfield single.
• Canada responded in the bottom frame when Daphnée Gélinas, Alizée Gélinas, and Madison Willan all delivered run-scoring single with runners in scoring position to take a 3-1 lead.
• A sacrifice fly by Alizée Gélinas to left field in the second inning extended Canada’s lead to 4-1.
• The Stars and Stripes knotted the score at 4-4 in the third inning with three runs on as many hits. Ashton Lansdell drove in Alex Hugo with a triple to center field, her fourth of the series, after a base hit and error put Hugo in scoring position. Kylee Lahners then delivered a two-run single to shallow center field with runners in scoring position to tie things up.
• Ashton Lansdell tallied her second run batted in of the game in the fifth to give the U.S. its first lead of the game at 5-4. Alex Hugo started the inning by reaching on a two-base error, and Lansdell sent her home with a single up the middle.
• Canada made a late surge in the sixth, scoring six runs on as many hits. Ellie Jesperson and Mia Valcke delivered run-scoring singles with runners at first and second to tie things up at 7-7, and then a Reese Velocci bases-loaded RBI single, balk, and Zoe Hicks sacrifice fly made it 10-7.
• The U.S. didn’t go down without a fight though in the final frame of the contest. Kelsie Whitmore and Jade Gortarez reached on a one-out hit-by-pitch and infield single, respectively, to start the spark. Olivia Pichardo drove in Whitmore from second with a base hit to center field, but as Gortarez looked to advance to third, she was out on the throw in from the outfield to end the game.

OF NOTE

• Alex Hugo went 2-for-4 with three runs scored, while Kylee Lahners went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and Ashton Lansdell turned in a 2-for-3 outing with two RBIs.
• Four other players tallied a hit in the contest for the Stars and Stripes for a combined 10.
• Canada’s Julia Konigshofer was credited with the win after surrendering just one earned run in two innings of relief out of the pen, while Sophie Gagne picked up the save as she managed to hold off the U.S. rally in the seventh.
• Niki Eckert was saddled with the loss after surrendering five earned runs in 3.0 innings in relief.

ON DECK

The teams will meet on Sunday, July 31, for game four of the series. Due to anticipated inclement weather in the area, first pitch has been adjusted to 3:00 p.m. ET at Baseball Central in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Stay tuned to @USABaseballWNT on Twitter for the most up-to-date news about the 2022 Women's National Team.

Box Score | PxP | Cumulative Stats

THUNDER BAY, Ontario – USA Baseball’s Women’s National Team continued its hot start to its friendship series with Canada on Friday night, securing a 7-1 win to improve to 2-0.

Despite Canada scoring first, the U.S. plated seven unanswered runs across the first four innings en route to the victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Canada took its first lead of the series in the first inning, plating a run on an RBI groundout with runners at the corners.
• Canada’s lead was short-lived though, as the United States scored four runs in the bottom of the first to take a three-run lead. Malaika Underwood started the spark by hitting a single to left center, and then back-to-back errors brought her home to knot the score a 1-1. Kylee Lahners roped a 2-RBI double down the left field line to bring across the go-ahead run, and then she scored on another Canadian defensive miscue for the fourth run of the inning.
• The U.S. extended its lead to 5-1 in the second when Kelsie Whitmore delivered a run-scoring single to drive in Alex Hugo from third, who started the side with an outfield single.
• Jade Gortarez and Jillian Alabayati made it 6-1 in the third inning when they strung together back-to-back doubles on one out.
• The final run of the game came in the fourth inning, making it 7-1 when Ashton Lansdell scored on Kelsie Whitmore’s RBI groundout to the shortstop after hitting her third triple of the series to left center.

OF NOTE

• Alex Hugo led all players offensively with a 2-for-4 performance with a run scored, while Kelsie Whitmore and Kylee Lahners tallied two runs batted in apiece.
• Marti Sementelli was credited with the win as she tossed three scoreless innings out of the pen with two strikeouts.
• Olivia Pichardo fanned a team-high five batters in her first career start on the mound for the Stars and Stripes, while Niki Eckert hurled the final inning of the contest in shutout fashion.
• Through two games the U.S. is outscoring Canada, 23-3.

ON DECK

• The teams will meet on Saturday, July 30, for game three of the series. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. ET at Baseball Central in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

SOCIAL MEDIA

• Stay tuned to @USABaseballWNT on Twitter for the most up-to-date news about the 2022 Women's National Team.

Box Score | PxP | Cumulative Stats

THUNDER BAY, Ontario – The United States Women’s National Team opened up its friendship series with Canada on Thursday in dominant fashion with a 16-2 victory at Baseball Central in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

The Stars and Stripes scored runs in six of the seven innings, including a combined 11 in the last three. The U.S. outhit Canada, 16-6, and kept its opponent scoreless through the first five innings of the contest.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The U.S. took an early lead in the first inning with a run. After Kylee Lahners reached on a two-base error and Malaika Underwood took first on a hit-by-pitch, Kelsie Whitmore delivered with a base hit to center field to drive in Lahners.
• Alex Hugo doubled the U.S. lead in the second at 2-0, sending Ashton Lansdell home from second after she led off the inning with a double down the left field line.
• The Stars and Stripes added three more runs in the third to take a 5-0 lead on a Kelsie Whitmore two-run triple to left center and RBI fielder’s choice by Ashton Landsell.
• In the fifth inning, Kelsie Whitmore led off with a home run to left field to make it 6-0, and then after Jade Gortarez tallied a base hit, she scored on Ashton Landsell’s triple to center field to make it 7-0.
• The U.S. managed to make it 12-0 in the sixth with five runs on as many hits via a Jamie Baum 2-RBI single to left center with runners in scoring position, an Ashton Lansdell two-run triple to right center, and an Anna Kimbrell run-scoring to center field.
• In the bottom of the sixth Canada avoided the shutout, scoring a pair of runs on a defensive miscue with the bases loaded.
• The red, white, and blue didn’t let up heading into the final inning, as it plated four more runs on three hits to make it 16-2. With the bases loaded on two outs, Alexia Jorge and Olivia Pichardo strung together back-to-back hits to drive in two runs each.

OF NOTE

• Kelsie Whitmore showed out at the plate and on the bump. She went 3-for-3 with four runs batted in and dealt 4.2 innings of shutout ball as she allowed just five hits and did not issue a walk.
• Ashton Lansdell also had a stellar outing offensively as she went 4-for-5, including two triples, with four RBIs and three runs scored.
• Ten different players tallied a base hit while seven recorded a run batted in.
• Jamie Baum tossed 1.1 innings out of the pen, surrendering one earned run while fanning two batters, while Meggie Meidlinger closed out the game by retiring Canada in order in the seventh.

ON DECK

• The teams will meet on Friday, July 29, for game two of the series. First pitch is set for 7:30 p.m. ET at Baseball Central in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

SOCIAL MEDIA

• Stay tuned to @USABaseballWNT on Twitter for the most up-to-date news about the 2022 Women's National Team.

Box Score | PxP | Cumulative Stats

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Stars vs. Stripes Women’s National Team Training Camp series concluded on Sunday morning at Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins, as the Stripes salvaged the series with a 5-3 extra-inning victory.

The Stripes scored two runs in the third and a run in the sixth to take a three-run lead, but the Stars managed to knot the score with two runs in the sixth and one in the seventh to force extra innings. The Stripes would not be denied though, as it plated two runs in the eighth to collect its lone win of the series.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Stripes took its first lead of the week in the third inning with a pair of runs. With runners at first and second after Anna Kimbrell and Kelsie Whitmore both singled up the middle, Denae Benites delivered with a base hit to left field to send Kimbrell home and put her team on the board. Jade Gortarez then drove in Whitmore with a groundout to second to double the lead.
• In the top of the sixth, the Stripes extended its lead to 3-0 thanks to a defensive miscue with the bases loaded.
• The Stars responded in the bottom frame, scoring two to make it a one-run game at 3-2 as Nadia Diaz and Ashton Lansdell each singled to the left side of the diamond with a runner at third.
• The Stars knotted the score at 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh on a bases-loaded wild pitch, forcing extra innings.
• With runners at first and second using the international tiebreaker, Jade Gortarez roped a base hit to center field to give the Stripes its lead back and then Remi Schaber drove in a run via a sacrifice fly to center field to add an insurance run.
• In the bottom of the eighth Jade Gortarez shut the door by striking out the side to secure the victory for her team.

OF NOTE

• Nine different players tallied a base hit, highlighted by extra-base hits from Jamie Baum and Olivia Pichardo.
• Kelsie Whitmore led all players with two runs scored, while Jade Gortarez drove in a game-high two runs batted in.
• Olivia Pichardo fanned a game-high five batters in her two shutout innings of work on the mound, while Kelsie Whitmore and Niki Eckert dealt two scoreless innings apiece.
• Jade Gortarez was credited with the win after retiring the Stars by strikeout in the eighth, while the Stars’ Ashton Lansdell was saddled with the loss after surrendering the final two runs of the game.

ON DECK

• The Women’s National Team roster will be announced on Sunday evening. The 20-woman roster will then travel to Canada for a five-game friendship series against Canada in Thunder Bay, Ontario, July 28-August 1.

SOCIAL MEDIA

• Stay tuned to @USABaseballWNT on Twitter for the most up-to-date news about the 2022 Women's National Team.

Box Score | PxP | Cumulative Stats

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Stars used 12 hits across the first five innings to secure a 15-4 victory over the Stripes on Saturday morning in the second game of the Women’s National Team Training Camp series at the Neiman Sports Complex in St. Paul, Minnesota. With the win, the Stars clinched the series.

The Stripes managed to make it a one-run game in the third inning, but the Stars scored 10 unanswered runs in the fourth and fifth innings en route to the win. Due to inclement weather, the game was suspended in the sixth inning.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Stars picked up where they left off on Friday, scoring four runs in the first inning to take an early lead. Jamie Baum drove in Alana Martinez from second with a double to left center to put her team on the board, and then Kylee Lahners added two more on a double down the left field line with runners in scoring position. Alexia Jorge capped off the inning by scoring Lahners from second with a base hit down the left field line.
• The Stripes responded in the bottom half of the first with a pair of runs to make it 4-2. Kelsie Whitmore plated the first run after reaching on a walk, stealing second and third, and scoring on an error, and then Remi Schaber crossed home plate on Elise Berger’s single though the right side after an error and wild pitch put her in scoring position.
• Jamie Baum tallied her fifth hit and sixth run batted in of the series in the second inning when her outfield single scored Jillian Albayati, who started the side with a single up the middle and moved to third on a wild pitch and fly out, respectively.
• The Stripes made it a one-run game at 5-4 in the third thanks to Remi Schaber’s two-run single through the left side with runners in scoring position.
• The Stars plated four runs on two hits in the fourth, taking a 9-4 lead. Jillian Albayati, Meredith McFadden, and Jamie Baum drew three consecutive walks for Ashton Lansdell, who roped a triple to right field to send all three runners home. Luciana Moreno tacked on the fourth run of the frame when her single through the left side scored Lansdell.
• In the fifth, the Stars erupted for six more runs on five hits to take a 15-4 lead before the game was suspended due to inclement weather. Jillian Albayati tallied her second hit of the day with an RBI single to right field, and then a sacrifice bunt, wild pitch, two-run double to left field by Luciana Moreno, and RBI single by Sadie Zion brought in the other five runs.

OF NOTE

• Jamie Baum had another stellar outing at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two RBIs to lead all players. In total, she has six hits and six runs batted in in the series. She additionally was credited with the win on the mound, allowing one earned run in 2.1 innings of work.
• Luciana Moreno (2-for-3, 2 runs) and Jillian Albayati (2-for-2, 3 runs) also turned in multi-hit performances for the Stars, while five other players collected a hit for the squad.
• Sadie Zion and Della Romano threw a combined 2.2 scoreless innings for the Stars, while the Stripes’ Janelle Calvet fanned a game-high three batters.
• Sara Tobias was charged with the loss on the bump for the Stripes, surrendering five earned runs in 1.2 innings pitched.
• In the series, the Stars have tallied 23 hits and outscored the Stripes 24-6.

ON DECK
The teams will meet for the series finale on Sunday, July 24, with first pitch set for 10:30 a.m. ET at Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The 20-woman roster for the Women’s National Team is slated to be announced later that day.

SOCIAL MEDIA
Stay tuned to @USABaseballWNT on Twitter for the most up-to-date news about the 2022 Women's National Team Training Camp.

Box Score | PxP | Cumulative Stats

ST. PAUL, Minn – The Women’s National Team Training Camp opened its Stars vs. Stripes series on Friday, with the Stars taking game one of the series 9-2.

Despite the Stripes striking first, the Stars managed to score eight unanswered runs across the first three innings to take a commanding 8-1 lead. The Stripes tacked on its second run of the game in the fifth, but the Stars answered with an inside the park home run by Jamie Baum, who went 3-for-4 with four runs batted in, in the sixth to take its seven-run lead back.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Anna Kimbrell drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs to put the Stars on the board in the first inning.
• Ashton Lansdell knotted the score at 1-1 in the bottom half of the first on a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Alana Martinez from third after she led off the side with an outfield single, moved to second on a wild pitch, then advanced to third on Jamie Baum’s outfield single.
• The Stars tacked on four more runs in the second inning, taking a 5-1 lead, thanks to an RBI single from Nadia Diaz and bases-clearing three-run double by Jamie Baum with one out.
• Alexia Jorge extended the Stars’ lead to 8-1 with a bases-clearing double to left center after an infield single and pair of walks loaded the bases.
• Kate Blunt cut into the Stripes’ deficit in the fifth when she laced a double to right center, scoring Olivia Bricker after she started the frame with a single to right field and moved to third on a pair of wild pitches.
• Jamie Baum capped off the scoring in the sixth when she hit an inside the park home run to center field to make it 9-2 in favor of the Stars.

OF NOTE

• Stars’ Jamie Baum had a strong day at the plate, leading all hitters with a 3-for-4 outing and four runs batted in.
• Additionally, Kylee Lahners and Alexia Jorge from the Stars each tallied two hits apiece, while Jorge had three RBIs in the contest.
• In total, the Stars recorded 11 hits in the game as four other players had a hit apiece.
• The Stars rotation of Jillian Albayati, Niki Eckert, Alana Martinez, and Ashton Lansdell combined to allow one earned run on four hits with six strikeouts, as Anna Kimbrell and Kate Blunt were responsible for two RBIs of the day for the Stripes.
• On the mound, Jillian Albayata picked up the win on the mound for the Stars after throwing 2.0 innings and not allowing an earned run to score, while Elise Berger was charged with the loss as she surrendered four earned runs in 1.2 innings.
• Additionally, the Stripes’ Paloma Benach tossed two shutout innings while Meggie Meidlinger threw a scoreless frame in the seventh.

ON DECK
The teams will meet for game two of the series on Saturday, July 23, with first pitch set for 10 a.m. ET at the Neiman Sports Complex in St. Paul, Minnesota.

SOCIAL MEDIA
Stay tuned to @USABaseballWNT on Twitter for the most up-to-date news about the 2022 Women's National Team Training Camp.

St. Paul, Minn. – USA Baseball today announced its roster for the 2022 Women’s National Team Training Camp, following the conclusion of the 2022 Women’s National Open, the primary identification event for the Women’s National Team. The roster is made up of 40 women from 21 different states across the U.S.

Training Camp will begin Thursday, July 21, and will consist of workouts and a series of three intrasquad games at the Neiman Sports Complex in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins, in Minneapolis. The final 20-woman roster will be announced on Sunday, July 24.

The Women’s National Team will then travel to Thunder Bay, Ontario, for a five-game friendship series with Canada at Baseball Central from July 28-August 1.

“The talent at this year’s Women’s National Open was very competitive, so narrowing the field down to forty was a difficult task,” said Women’s National Team Program Director Ann Claire Roberson. “We are very excited to have these players continuing on in the process this week to compete for a spot on this year’s Women’s National Team.

“Our staff feels this is not only a talented group but also a group of individuals that would represent our country well both on and off the field.”

In total, 13 alumnae of the Women’s National Team will once again compete for a chance to wear the red, white, and blue in 2022, and all 13 helped the United States win a gold medal at the 2019 COPABE Women’s Pan-American Championships.

The roster is highlighted by Malaika Underwood, who holds the record for most appearances on a USA Baseball national team, having represented the U.S. 10 times. Additionally, Anna Kimbrell has been members of a national team nine times, while Marti Sementelli is an eight-time national team member. Jade Gortarez, and Kelsie Whitmore are six-time national team alumnae while Meggie Meidlinger has suited up for the U.S. five times.

Eleven athletes on the Training Camp roster are new to the Women’s National Team Program in 2022, while 28 have participated in a Women’s National Development Program in prior years.

This year’s Women’s National Team manager is five-time Team USA player Veronica Alvarez. She will coach alongside assistant coaches Manny Crespo, Sr. and Alex Oglesby, and pitching coach Reynol Mendoza. Additionally, Lou Colon, Manny Crespo, Jr., Jenny Dalton-Hill, Tamara Holmes, Mike Kinkade, and Jim Koerner will serve as coaches for the Women’s National Team Training Camp.

Fans can follow along with the action by following @USABaseballWNT on Twitter and @USABaseball on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

The 2022 Women’s National Team Training Camp Roster is as follows:

2022 Women’s National Team Training Camp Roster (click here for the Stars and Stripes teams)
(Name; Position; Hometown)

• ^Jillian Albayati; RHP/INF; Anaheim, Calif.
• Sierra Baldwin; C/UTIL; Lawton, Mich.
• ^Jamie Baum; RHP/UTIL; Los Altos, Calif.
• ^Kaija Bazzano; INF/OF; Sebastopol, Calif.
• *^Denae Benites; INF/RHP; Las Vegas, Nev.
• ^Paloma Benach; LHP; Washington, D.C.
• ^Elise Berger; RHP/INF; Shelburne, Vt.
• *^Kate Blunt; RHP/INF; Ladera Ranch, Calif.
• ^Olivia Bricker; LHP/OF; Cincinnati, Ohio
• ^Janelle Calvet; UTIL/RHP; Deerfield Beach, Fla.
• Nadia Diaz; RHP/INF; Syracuse, N.Y.
• Niki Eckert; LHP/OF; Englewood, N.J.
• Maggie Foxx; C/INF; Bedford, N.H.
• *^Jade Gortarez; INF/RHP; Riverside, Calif.
• ^Beth Greenwood; C/UTIL; Amherst, N.H.
• *^Alex Hugo; INF/OF; Olathe, Kan.
• *^Alexia Jorge; C/INF; Lyndhurst, N.J.
• ^Skylar Kaplan; OF/RHP; Glen Burnie, Md.
• *^Anna Kimbrell; C; Fort Mill, S.C.
• *^Kylee Lahners; INF; Laguna Hills, Calif.
• *^Ashton Lansdell; INF/RHP; Marietta, Ga.
• Jasmine Mack; C/INF; Whitsett, N.C.
• ^Alana Martinez; INF/OF; Cooper City, Fla.
• ^Meredith McFadden; C/UTIL; Charlotte, N.C.
• *^Meggie Meidlinger; RHP/INF; Sterling, Va.
• Luciana Moreno; INF/UTIL; Sun Prairie, Wis.
• Angelique Nieves; INF/RHP; Perth Amboy, N.J.
• ^Maggie Paulovich; INF/C; Albany, Calif.
• Valerie Perez; INF/UTIL; Corpus Christi, Texas
• ^Olivia Pichardo; RHP/OF; Forest Hills, N.Y.
• ^Aspen Robinson; OF/UTIL; Folsom, Calif.
• Della Romano; RHP/INF; Chicago, Ill.
• ^Remi Schaber; INF/RHP; Cordova, Tenn.
• *^Marti Sementelli; RHP; West Newton, Mass.
• Ella Strickland; INF/UTIL; Saint Louis, Mo.
• *^Sara Tobias; RHP/OF; New York, N.Y.
• *^Malaika Underwood; IF; San Diego, Calif.
• *^Kelsie Whitmore; OF/RHP; Temecula, Calif.
• Lily Woodworth; INF/OF; South Glastonbury, Conn.
• Sadie Zion; INF; Carmel, N.Y.

* denotes national team alumna
^ denotes National Team Development Program participant

The future of baseball – it’s female.

The popularity of baseball among females is vastly growing, and USA Baseball’s Women’s National Open is helping to prove that point, as it is providing a unique opportunity for girls and women from around the country to gather this week and compete for a spot on the prestigious 2022 Women’s National Team.

For three players – Nadia Chernich, Athena Clendaniel, and Virginia Parr – they have traveled more than 3,000 miles from Alaska to be amongst some of the top female baseball players in the United States.

Chernich (Fairbanks, Alaska) and Clendaniel (Anchorage, Alaska) have both been involved in various joint USA Baseball and MLB events in the past but are taking part in their first USA Baseball-sanctioned event this week in St. Paul, Minnesota.

“It’s been nice seeing some of the older women here that I've kind of looked up to growing up,” said Clendaniel. “I saw them play when I was younger, and now those are players I'm seeing here. I’m getting the chance to play with and against some of them this week, which is pretty cool.”

For Parr (Fairbanks, Alaska), this is her second time competing at the Women’s National Open as she traveled to the National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina, in 2018. Knowing what the event entailed, she was eagerly waiting for the chance to return after it was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic.

“It is definitely an awesome experience,” said Parr. “When I was younger this was not really a thing, but I always wanted there to be something like it. Even to see the talent and how much it has grown since I was at this event four years ago, it’s crazy. I want this to continue so that maybe one day there can be a major league for women.”

For many of the players at this week’s Women’s National Open, this is the first time they have been surrounded by so many other females who share the same passion of baseball. Almost all 58 competitors have been limited to playing on male travel ball teams or their respective boy’s high school teams.

“In the Fairbanks area, there aren’t any baseball teams for females that I know of,” explained Parr. “I know there are men's leagues and they're open to women playing, and there is the occasional girl or two playing, especially through high school.”

Not only is the Women’s National Open a chance for girls and women to be amongst others who all share a common interest, but it is also an opportunity to learn from a coaching staff that has a wealth of experience and success at the professional level.

“It's just mind blowing to me that this is my life right now,” said Chernich. “I am around the best women in sports this week, in my opinion, that I will probably ever see. I am so blessed to be here after traveling from so far away. It’s been surreal for me.”

No matter the outcome of the Women’s National Open, these players see the event serving a higher purpose for developing skills and advancing their careers.

“Obviously, the goal is to make the team and go play in Canada, but what I'm really focusing on and trying to take away from these couple of days is just learning from and playing with and against some of the top women in the country,” said Clendaniel.

Unknowingly, the 58 players that are in attendance this week are helping to trailblaze the way for the future of women’s baseball. The sport has made tremendous strides in even just the last five years, and the future is bright for girls and women all over.

“I see this event as a way to set women up for the future because if this is what it’s like for me now, I can’t wait to see what the sport will look like years from now,” said Chernich. “The fact that this exists in my life is incredible because I remember a couple of years ago that this was not a thing. Back then I thought to myself that it could be a thing and now it is, so if this is what it’s like now, the future should be absolutely amazing.”

CARY, N.C. – USA Baseball today revealed its roster for the 2022 Women’s National Open. The roster, which consists of 58 players from around the country, will be split into four teams - Braves, Eagles, Patriots, and Stars - and each team will play three games from July 18-20 at the Neiman Sports Complex in St. Paul, Minnesota.

There will additionally be workouts throughout the event, as the Women’s National Open will serve as the primary identification process for the 2022 Women’s National Team. Fans can follow along with the action by following @USABaseballWNT on Twitter and @USABaseball on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

A minimum of 32 players will be selected from the Women’s National Open on July 20 to participate in the Women’s National Team Training Camp, which will be held July 21-24 at the Neiman Sports Complex and Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins. From there, 20 athletes will be chosen to represent the United States on the final Women’s National Team roster.

Seven players heading to Minnesota are alumnae of the Women’s National Team, while 26 have participated in a Women’s National Development Program in prior years.

The Women’s National Team Training Camp roster will be announced on Wednesday, July 20, following the completion of the Women’s National Open. The final national team roster will be revealed by USA Baseball on Sunday, July 24.

The Women’s National Team will then travel to Thunder Bay, Ontario, for a five-game friendship series with Canada at Baseball Central from July 28-August 1.

This year’s Women’s National Team will be led by manager Veronica Alvarez, a five-time Team USA player, along with assistant coaches Manny Crespo, Sr. and Alex Oglesby, and pitching coach Reynol Mendoza. Additionally, Lou Colon, Jorge Correa, Manny Crespo, Jr., Jenny Dalton-Hill, Alec Hernandez, Tamara Holmes, Mike Kinkade, and Jim Koerner will serve as coaches for the Women’s National Open.

The 2022 Women’s National Open Roster is as follows:

2022 Women’s National Open Roster (click here for the individual team rosters)
(Name; Position; Hometown)

• ^Jillian Albayati; P/INF; Anaheim, Calif.
• ^Chloe Aldrich; OF; Pearland, Texas
• Sierra Baldwin; C; Lawton, Mich.
• ^Jamie Baum; P/INF; Los Altos, Calif.
• ^Kaija Bazzano; INF; Sebastopol, Calif.
• ^Paloma Benach; LHP; Washington, D.C.
• Taylor Bennett; RHP; Manhattan Beach, Calif.
• ^Elise Berger; RHP; Shelburne, Vt.
• *^Kate Blunt; P/INF; Ladera Ranch, Calif.
• ^Olivia Bricker; LHP; Cincinnati, Ohio
• ^Janelle Calvet; UTIL; Deerfield Beach, Fla.
• Jasmine Chao; INF; Alamo, Calif.
• Nadia Chernich; C; Fairbanks, Alaska
• Athena Clendaniel; LHP; Anchorage, Alaska
• Abygil Contreras; C; Norwalk, Calif.
• Taylor Daniels; OF; Winnetka, Ill.
• Nadia Diaz; P/INF; Syracuse, N.Y.
• Niki Eckert; LHP; Englewood, N.J.
• Bella Espinoza-Molina; RHP; Ladera Ranch, Calif.
• Lily Everette; P/INF; Fairview, N.C.
• Quinn Faria; P/INF; Bristol, R.I.
• Maggie Foxx; C; Bedford, N.H.
• Kaylee Garner; C; Newark, Ohio
• Ellis Goldman; INF; San Jose, Calif.
• *^Jade Gortarez; INF; Riverside, Calif.
• ^Beth Greenwood; C; Amherst, N.H.
• ^Kelliann Jenkins; RHP; Potomac, Md.
• *^Alexia Jorge; C; Lynhdurst, N.J.
• ^Skylar Kaplan; OF; Glen Burnie, Md.
• *^Anna Kimbrell; C; Fort Mill, S.C.
• Amanda La Fon; UTIL; Elgin, Ill.
• *^Kylee Lahners; INF; Lake Forest, Calif.
• *^Ashton Lansdell; INF; Marietta, Ga.
• Jane Littleton; OF; Brooklyn, N.Y.
• Jasmine Mack; C; Whitsett, N.C.
• ^Alana Martinez; INF; Cooper City, Fla.
• Arwen McCullough; RHP; Livermore, CA, Calif.
• ^Meredith McFadden; C; Charlotte, N.C.
• Luciana Moreno; INF; Sun Prairie, Wis.
• Angelique Nieves; INF; Perth Amboy, N.J.
• Jadyn O'Dette; RHP; Orange, Calif.
• Virginia Parr; INF; Fairbanks, Alaska
• ^Maggie Paulovich; INF; Albany, Calif.
• Valerie Perez; INF; Corpus Christi, Texas
• ^Olivia Pichardo; RHP; Forest Hills, N.Y.
• ^Katie Reynolds; RHP; Belmont, Mass.
• Jazzmine Rivera; INF; Chicago, Ill.
• ^Aspen Robinson; OF; Folsom, Calif.
• Della Romano; RHP; Chicago, Ill.
• Nathaly Saldana; P/INF; Clive, Iowa
• ^Remi Schaber; INF; Cordova, Tenn.
• Homa Schweers; OF; Fredericksburg, Va.
• Jessica Shedden; INF; Casper, Wyo.
• Ella Strickland; INF; Saint Louis, Mo.
• *^Sara Tobias; RHP; New York, N.Y.
• Rebekah Youmans; INF; Grandview, Mo.
• Lily Woodworth; INF; South Glastonbury, Conn.
• Sadie Zion; INF; Carmel, N.Y.

* denotes national team alumna
^ denotes National Team Development Program participant

TAIPEI CITY, Taiwan –The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) announced Monday that USA Baseball Executive Director/CEO Paul Seiler was reelected to its Executive Board for a third term through 2025. His reappointment came during the IV WBSC Congress in Taipei City, Taiwan. Seiler was first elected as a member-at-large in 2017.

The WBSC is the world governing body for the sports of baseball, softball, and Baseball5. It was established in 2013 by the merger of the International Baseball Federation and International Softball Federation.

"My congratulations to Paul for his reelection on the WBSC Executive Board,” said WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari. “He has been an instrumental part of the WBSC's development and the growth of baseball around the world. He is a dear friend and colleague ever since we first started working together at IBAF and I'm pleased to have Paul continue on the WBSC Executive Board with many exciting projects ahead of us, including the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games." 

“We are delighted that USA Baseball, and in particular Paul Seiler, will continue to serve as members of the WBSC leadership team,” said USA Baseball President Mike Gaski. “His reelection to a third term is a testament to the respect and admiration he and USA Baseball hold among the global leaders of our game. We look forward to witnessing the growth of baseball globally under his continued leadership.”

“I am both honored and humbled to continue serving on the WBSC Executive Board,” said Seiler. “I cannot overstate the importance of leading by example and USA Baseball continues to be one of the foremost ambassadors for baseball globally thanks to a tremendous team of people dedicated to the care and proliferation of our game in the United States. It continues to be my privilege to represent them among the leaders for baseball with the WBSC as we collectively aim to develop, strengthen, and grow our beloved game domestically and internationally.”

A native of Trenton, New Jersey, Seiler joined USA Baseball in 1988 and was later named Executive Director/CEO in October 2000 after serving as the organization’s Director of National Team Operations from 1997–1999. During his tenure, USA Baseball has forged a long-term partnership with Major League Baseball, achieved record success by its national teams, and experienced unprecedented internal growth.

In 2000, Seiler worked closely with Major League Baseball, the MLB Players Association, and the United States Olympic Paralympic Committee (USOPC) to help lead Team USA to its first Olympic gold medal at the Sydney Games. In addition to being elected to the Executive Committee of the WBSC in 2017, he also served as the Second Vice Chairman for the WBSC’s Baseball Division. Seiler was also one of two technical delegates for baseball in the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Most recently, he led the Professional National Team program to a silver medal in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games after helping baseball return to the Olympic Programme for the first time since 2008.

OTTAWA – Baseball Canada and the Thunder Bay International Baseball Association (TBIBA) have announced the schedule for the five-game, Canada vs. USA Women’s Baseball Friendship Series that is set to take place in Thunder Bay, Ontario, July 28 – August 1.

All games will be played at Baseball Central in Thunder Bay, a site that is no stranger to hosting international baseball with the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-18 Baseball World Cups taking place there in 2010 and 2017.

Schedule:

• Thursday, July 28 - USA @ Canada - 7:30 p.m.
• Friday, July 29 - Canada @ USA - 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, July 30 - USA @ Canada - 1 p.m.
• Sunday, July 31 - Canada @ USA - 7:30 p.m.
• Monday, August 1 - USA @ Canada - 1 p.m.

Canada and USA will both hold workouts at Baseball Central Wednesday, July 27, before the series begins July 28.

Friendship Series event information, including ticket sales, will be available on the TBIBA Facebook page.

Stay up-to-date with Baseball Canada’s and USA Baseball’s Women’s National Team programs by following @BaseballCANWNT and @USABaseballWNT on Twitter.

CARY, N.C. – USA Baseball today named the coaching staff for the 2022 Women’s National Team, highlighted by the return of 2019 Rod Dedeaux Coach of the Year and five-time Team USA player Veronica Alvarez as manager. The remaining members of the 2019 staff are also set to return in 2022 with Manny Crespo, Sr., and Alex Oglesby as assistant coaches and Reynol Mendoza serving as the team’s pitching coach.

After guiding the U.S. to a gold medal at the 2019 COPABE Women’s Pan-American Championships, the staff will lead the Women’s National Team in 2022 as it returns to the international stage to compete in an international friendship series against Canada from July 28-August 1 in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

“We are thrilled to have Veronica and the rest of this tremendous staff back to guide our Women’s National Team as we return to international competition in 2022,” USA Baseball Assistant Director of Baseball Operations Ann Claire Roberson said. “Every one of these coaches brings an incredible amount of baseball knowledge and experience to this program that will be instrumental in the growth and development of all of our athletes both on and off the field. We are confident that they will represent this organization and the U.S. exceptionally well at the helm of Team USA and we cannot wait to get started.”

Alvarez, who has been named Women’s National Team manager twice in her career previously (2019, 2020), became the first female recipient of the USA Baseball Rod Dedeaux Coach of the Year Award following her work with the 2019 squad. Under her direction, Team USA finished the 2019 COPABE Women’s Pan-American Championships with a perfect 7-0 record and the program’s first gold medal since the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games, outscoring opponents 124-20 en route to being named USA Baseball’s 2019 Team of the Year.

“Being in the position to lead these athletes is an honor and a dream. We are on a mission to be the best in the world and every opportunity we get to develop and compete together is a step closer to completing that mission,” Alvarez said. “Providing the resources and coaching that gives these athletes and this program the best chance of success is a major factor in achieving our mission and the staff we have is of the highest caliber. They bring incredible knowledge, passion for the game, and the ability to relay messages to players in a way that allows them to continuously grow, so I cannot wait to get out on the field with them and put together another exceptional Women’s National Team.”

While 2019 marked Alvarez’s Team USA managerial debut, she is no stranger to donning the red, white, and blue. She was named manager in 2020, served as Field Coordinator at the Women’s National Team Development Program and the inaugural USA Baseball Girls Camp in 2021, worked as an assistant coach on the 2018 staff, and played for Team USA five times in her career.

Her time with the stars and stripes started as a player in 2008 and has medaled in ever international competition she has participated in, including the 2015 Women’s National Team that won a gold medal at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games. She also won bronze medals with Team USA at the 2008 and 2010 International Baseball Federation (IBAF) Women’s Baseball World Cups before winning a silver medal at the 2012 World Baseball Softball Confederation Women’s Baseball World Cup.

Since finishing her playing career in 2016, Alvarez has continued to help grow the next generation of female baseball players through programs created from the collaboration between Major League Baseball and USA Baseball to foster the next generation of female baseball players in the United States. She has been a coach at the Trailblazer Series from 2017-2022, the Girls Baseball Breakthrough Series Showcase & Development Camp since 2018, and the Girls Baseball Elite Development Invitational from 2020-2022.

Crespo, who made his national team coaching debut in 2019 when he helped guide the Women’s National Team to a gold medal, will join the program’s staff as an assistant coach for the second time in 2022. He is currently in his 17th year as the Director of Latin American Player Development for the Detroit Tigers. Prior to his time with the Tigers, he worked in the San Diego Padres, New York Yankees, and Miami Marlins organizations. Crespo was selected in the third round of the 1968 MLB Draft by the Boston Red Sox and spent nine years playing professionally before his retirement in 1978. In addition, Crespo served as a bench coach during the 2013 World Baseball Classic and was a manager during the 2017 event.

Mendoza will serve as Team USA’s pitching coach in 2022 after leading the 2019 Women’s National Team pitching staff to a collective 3.16 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 37 innings of work. He is currently the head coach at Eagle Pass High School (Eagle Pass, Texas) where, under his guidance, the Eagles have made playoff appearances in each of the last fourteen seasons and competed in the regional finals in 2013, 2014, and 2021. The Miami Marlins selected Mendoza in the seventh round of the 1992 MLB Draft and he spent seven years in the Marlins system, including three seasons at the Triple-A level.

Rounding out the 2022 staff is Women’s National Team alum Alex Oglesby, who will also serve in an assistant coach role. Oglesby was a member of the inaugural Women’s National Team that won a gold medal at the IBAF Women’s Baseball World Cup in 2004 and was named to the All-Tournament Team. Before representing the U.S., she played in the Ladies Professional Baseball League and was the youngest player when the league began in 1997. At just 17 years old, Oglesby led the San Jose Spitfires to the league’s first World Series Championship and was named both Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year for her efforts. She also helped form the California Women’s Baseball League in 2002, where she earned MVP honors twice.

Most recently, Oglesby served on staff for the 2019 Women’s National Team and was a member of the 2021 USA Baseball Girls Camp coaching staff. She has also served as a coach at the Trailblazer Series from 2017–2022 and coached at the first-ever Major League Baseball and USA Baseball GRIT in 2019. In addition, she was a member of the coaching staff at the 2018 Women’s National Open and the 2018 Women’s National Team Trials.

The 2022 Women’s National Team schedule will begin with the Women’s National Open which is scheduled for July 18-20 and will serve as the primary identification event for Team USA. Players from across the country will gather at Neiman Sports Complex in St. Paul, Minnesota, to compete for the opportunity to represent the U.S. as a member of the Women's National Team. Registered players will be divided into teams coached by USA Baseball Women's National Team coaches and staff and will compete in games, as well as participate in individual workout sessions for their primary position(s). Players can register for the 2022 Women’s National Open here.

A minimum of 30 players will be selected from the Women's National Open to make up the Women's National Team Trials roster, with trials taking place from July 21-24. The final 20-women roster will be announced following the conclusion of Trials and Team USA will then train from July 25-27 before taking on Canada in a five-game friendship series on July 28-August 1 in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Final details for the full 2022 Women’s National Team schedule will be announced at a later date.

For the most up-to-date information on the Women’s National Team, follow @USABaseballWNT on Twitter.