Lillywhite eyes eighth baseball World Cup

Monday, 18 June 2018:

Shae Lillywhite's remarkable baseball career will extend to an eighth World Cup after the infielder was named in Australia's squad to play in Florida later this year.

The 33-year-old has been a constant for Australia since the event's 2004 inception and will enter in superb form after dominating with the bat at the recent national titles.

The Victorian-based myotherapist averaged a staggering .444 with 11 runs batted in at the Geelong championships and is expected to play a key role for a side fielding three World Cup debutantes.

Lillywhite made history when she became the first non-national female signed to play professionally in Japan four years ago.

It is the Japanese who have won the last five tournaments and stand in the way of Australia improving on a best of silver eight years ago.

Australian manager Simone Wearne applauded the squad's commitment, given they were self-funded and working to support their baseball careers.

"In a game where the players do not have the opportunity to vie for college scholarships or MLB contracts, these girls continue to work hard in a real 'love of the game' type way," she said.

Australia's stocks will be boosted by the inclusion of Tahnee Lovering, who was named World All-Star catcher at the 2016 Cup after claiming a team-high eight hits and a .400 batting average.

Kaila Borgomastro, Elodie O'Sullivan and Abbey McLellan will make their World Cup debuts when the 10-day tournament begins on August 22.

Baseball will return to the Olympics in 2020 for the first time since 2008, but only feature a men's competition.

AUSTRALIAN SQUAD: Leslie Anglin, Olivia Bannon, Kaila Borgomastro, Amy Collins, Morgan Doty, Sinead Flanigan, Chelsa Forkin, Brownyn Gell, Brittany Hepburn, Natalie House, Abbey Kelly, Shae Lillywhite, Tahnee Lovering, Abbey McMillan, Laura Neads, Elodie O'Sullivan, Maddison Tabrett, Taylah Welch.






AAP






Check out FREE Full Race results for nine separate countries.