By David Nagel
Springvale Lions baseball star Shae Lillywhite has chalked up another significant achievement in an already glittering career after earning selection for this year’s World Cup in South Korea.
Lillywhite is one of four Victorians selected in a 20-strong squad that will head to Gijang for the WBSC Women’s World Cup, running from Saturday 3 to Sunday 11 September.
The Somerville local, who also plies her trade for the Berwick Dodgers in the summer league, was selected in the Australian Emeralds squad after an intense three-day camp held at Surfers Paradise Baseball Club last weekend.
Emeralds Head Coach Simone Wearne was impressed with the quality of the camp.
“We had 32 of the best players from across the country come in and play five games, take part in various off-field activities, and all showed a great commitment to the Emeralds program,” Wearne said.
Lillywhite, who has been a mainstay of the Emeralds since 2001, has had stints in Japan and the USA and is a previous winner of the Australian Women’s Baseball Player of the Year.
She was a member of the 2014 Emeralds squad that won a bronze medal at that year’s World Cup.
Coach Wearne had the unenviable task of selecting the team but is pleased with the final 20.
“It was a very difficult task selecting just 20 players from a group of talented girls but we feel like we have a great mix of veterans and rookies that will really work well together in Korea,” Wearne said.
“The final team includes 10 rookies plus two returning players who have not been on the National Team for around 10 years.
“It really is an exciting time for women’s baseball in Australia”.
The Emeralds go into the tournament as the number three ranked team in the world and have drawn the USA (2), Chinese Taipei (6) and Hong Kong (9) in the opening pool rounds.
