Incoming Louisiana Pitcher Sam Ryan Selected to Canadian National Softball Team
Soon-to-be Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Softball pitcher Sam Ryan (Monroe, New York/Chattanooga State CC) has been chosen to compete for Softball Canada on its Women's National Team during the summer 2023 months prior to arriving on campus in the fall.
Ryan is one of the 16 individuals selected by the Canadian national team's coaching staff to comprise the roster for international competition in the Canada Cup from July 10-17 in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada and the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Group Stage C from July 22-26 in Castions di Strada and Buttrio, Italy.
The Softball Canada Women's National Team coaching staff made their selections after holding three regional identification camps and one final selection camp.
"Being selected to this team is such an honor," Ryan said. "It's an incredible opportunity to be able to work alongside with and learn from some of the best in the game. What excites me the most about this upcoming experience is simply being able to go out and compete."
Ryan and her fellow teammates are scheduled for a United States Exhibition Series in Clarksville, Tennessee on the Austin Peay State University campus from June 29-July 2 with the Florida Vibe prior to the main competition schedule in July.
Canada is currently ranked fifth in the WBSC Women's Softball World Rankings and qualified for the WBSC World Cup Group Stage with a silver-medal performance at the 2022 WBSC Pan American Championship held November 12-19 in Guatemala City.
The 2023 WBSC Women's Softball World Cup will be the first tournament staged under the new two-stage format. A total of 18 teams have been split into three groups, with the top two teams in each group's final standing advancing to the Finals that will be held in 2024 in Italy. The two remaining spots will be awarded to wild card entries and/or the host.
Canada will be in Group C, accompanied by No. 2 Japan, No. 8 Italy, No.22 Venezuela, No. 26 Philippines, and No. 28 New Zealand. Live scoring will be available through the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup website, with live streaming available through GameTime.sport.
"This is such a huge opportunity for Sam (Ryan) to be able to compete on the international stage of fastpitch and prep for the fall with an intense summer of competition," Louisiana Softball head coach Gerry Glasco said. "Playing against older experienced players and among the best in the world can do nothing but help sharpen the tools of an athlete."
A December 2022 signee with the Ragin' Cajuns set to join the team beginning with the 2023-24 academic year, Ryan crafted 40 wins, piled up over 300 strikeouts, led Chattanooga State to a pair of national tournament appearances, was a two-time pitcher of the year selection and developed into an All-American award winner during her two-year stay with the Tigers.
She was a bronze medal recipient at the World Cup and Junior Pan Am games with the Canadian Juniors in 2019. In summer 2022, she was named to the Canadian National Team roster and competed with the team at the 2022 Celebration Tour and Canada Cup International Softball Championship.
Ryan, (whose mother Tammy is from Edmonton) acquired dual citizenship prior to her junior season at Monroe-Woodbury (New York) High School in 2019.
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Re: Incoming Louisiana Pitcher Sam Ryan Selected to Canadian National Softball Team
