The Great Britain women's national baseball team is the national women's baseball team of the United Kingdom. It is governed by the British Baseball Federation, and is also a member nation of the Confederation of European Baseball.

Background

National team formation and controversy

Baseball in the United Kingdom has a long history, and a well established men's senior representative side, but it was not until 2020 that a women's side was established by the British Baseball Federation. Amanda ‘Doris’ Hocking, who had spearheaded the formation of Women's Baseball UK, the body that created the first women's domestic league in the United Kingdom for 80 years, was appointed as the first General Manager.

However, in April 2021 Hocking resigned in protest over a tweet made by the British Baseball Federation's Twitter account, which was widely perceived to have sexualised women in baseball. Amongst those who supported Hocking for her stance was men's senior team Manager, Drew Spencer. The President of the British Baseball Federation, Gerry Perez, was forced to resign, after a week of defending the tweet and refusing to remove it.

First international tournament In preparation for their international debut at the Women's European Baseball Championship Sheffield Bruins women's team Head Coach, Josh Taylor, was appointed as Pitching Coach and Fiona Brambley was appointed as team Trainer, to travel out to France with the squad. The team's debut international championship got off to an explosive start, with the women piling on the runs in a commanding victory over the Czech Republic, on the first day of the competition. Laura Hirai scored six runs in the game. Dora Lau and Gabriella Sassoli both crossed the plate four times. Sassoli also collected four RBI. During the tournament catcher Marianna Casal placed emphasis on the importance of the team making its international debut, hoping to inspire other girls and women to take up baseball in the United Kingdom, by leading her team in the European Championship. She said "Even if we do come back in fourth, we will have been the first women in Great Britain to go a baseball Euros. That is an achievement, we are making history."

Notable figures Elizabeth Stride, known professionally as Lizzie Arlington. Stride was born to English parents in the United States, in 1877, and was the first woman to play for a professional men's team.

Laura Hirai was the first ever batter for the senior women's team, scoring the first run. Hirai was also the first ever Ball Girl in New York Yankees history, at the 2019 MLB London Series. Hirai is the first woman to represent both the Great Britain Baseball Youth National teams (U16 and U18) and the Great Britain Baseball Women's Senior National Team, and also play for the Great Britain Softball Women's Senior National team.

Coaching staff Name Position Pietro Sollecito Head coach / Lead Manager John BaxendaleOperations Manager Gaetano Cristiano Bench Coach Erick HensonThird Base Coach, Hitting Coach Hsinyen LaiInfield Coach Emma McCleanBullpen Coach Wes NgPhysical Trainer Lorenzo Pieri Pitching Coach Alex Pike Catching Coach Results and fixtures Legend

2022

Record by team Team Stats 3 2 1 48 32 2 1 1 28 14 2 1 1 12 21 Total7438867

Tournament records

World Cup Great Britain have yet to qualify for the Women's Baseball World Cup, the most recent tournament was scheduled to take place in Monterrey, Mexico in 2020 but was postponed until 2021 then cancelled due to covid. The finals of the next tournament are scheduled to take place in 2024, in Thunder Bay, Canada.

Year 2004 Did not enter 2006 Did not enter 2008 Did not enter 2010 Did not enter 2012 Did not enter 2014 Did not enter 2016 Did not enter 2018 Did not enter 2020 Did not enter 2024 To be decided Total 0/9 - - 0 0 0 0

European Baseball Championship Great Britain were not formed in time to compete at the 2019 2019 Women's European Baseball Championship, in Rouen, France, and were therefore not eligible to qualify for the 2020 Women's Baseball World Cup.

The 2022 Women's European Baseball Championship was held on Wednesday, 3 August to Saturday, 6 August 2022 in Montpellier in France, with France as defending champions. Once again the championships also served as qualifying event for the next Baseball World Cup. Great Britain, in their first ever international tournament, finished 4th and therefore did not qualify for the Baseball World Cup.

YearPosition 2019 Did not enter 20224th3124135Total-3124135

Current roster The team's most recent roster, for the 2025 Women's European Baseball Championship.

References

External links Baseball Softball UK British Baseball Federation Womens Baseball UK WBSC Europe