A pair of veterans and a teenage pitcher are three local players named to the Canadian national women’s softball team, which will compete at the US World Cup of Softball.
Middle infielder Jen Yee of North Delta and outfielder Melanie Matthews of Surrey, both members of the 2008 team which competed at the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China, are among the 20 players chosen following a selection camp in Oklahoma City.
Jocelyn Cater, a 17 year-old student at North Delta’s Seaquam Secondary, was also named to the squad. Cater made her debut with the national team at last year’s Scotiabank Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship at Surrey’s Softball City last summer.
The team will begin play at the World Cup, which is also in Oklahoma, tomorrow. The tournament will run through to July 2, after which the Canadian team will travel to Surrey for the July 4-9 Canadian Open.
Two other players with a local connection also made the team. Marina Demore of Richmond and Kelsey Haberl of Burnaby each played for the Surrey Storm rep program.
Demore currently pitches for the Oregon Ducks of the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association).
Haberl, who plays first base, recently completed her collegiate career with the SFU (Simon Fraser University) Clan. She was a member of Team Canada last year, and played at both the US World Cup and the Canadian Open.