The Aussie Spirit are primed for a deep push in the WBSC Women’s World Cup Finals being played in Castions Di Strada, Italy, after playing in the Canada Cup.

The Spirit are facing world class competition at the Canada Cup in Vancouver with the Spirit reaching the quarter finals, falling short to Mexico. All of this has been great preparation to face the world’s best in Italy at the WBSC World Cup Finals.

Head Coach, Laing Harrow, is happy with the lead-up the Spirit have had, saying

“The Canada Cup has been a really good preparation for us, we got to see a lot of good quality competition and getting as many at bats in and innings in for us has been super beneficial”. Says Harrow.

“We now have areas of recognition where we’d want to improve for the World Cup Finals hence why we are going to Milan to get a few more games in to improve the areas that we feel we need to be better at to compete and play well at the World Cup Finals”.

Prior to the Spirits first World Cup Finals game against Japan is the 43rd Caronno City International Tournament in Milan, Italy, where the Spirit will partake in four exhibition games to fully prepare for the World Cup Finals.

Caronno City International Tournament Schedule (AEST):

Spirit v Puerto Rico | July 10, 12am

Spirit v Netherlands | July 10, 6:15pm

Spirit v College Div. 1 | July 11, 1:30am

Spirit v China | July 11, 4am

To watch the Spirit at the Caronno City International Tournament, click here.

The Spirit team has some new faces with Shaylan Whatman, from the NSW Firestars, and Madison Scott, from the SA Starz joining the Spirit.

Laing Harrow is pleased with how the two have transitioned into the team’s culture, saying.

“It’s been pretty seamless actually. The girls have been really good in that culture space, the girls are working together on and off the diamond, it has been exceptional”.

Third basemen, Shaylan Whatmen has impressed early, being recognised in the Canada Cup All-Star team as third base.

“She has done really well. We actually asked her to play another position for us (outfield) due to injuries and she slotted straight in there and did what was needed for the team”. Says Laing, “She was hitting the ball well and we just needed to find a place for her to play. It’s always good to see a player get a tournament award for their efforts”.

The full focus for the Spirit is now on the WBSC World Cup Finals where they have been placed in Group B alongside Japan (world ranking no.3), the Netherlands (no.8) and Puerto Rico (no.2). Group A contains Italy (no.7), Canada (no.5), China (no.17) and the USA (no.1).

World Cup Finals schedule (AEST):

Spirit v Japan | July 15, 7pm

Spirit v Netherlands | July 16, 1:30am

Spirit v Puerto Rico | July 17, 1:30am

Super Rounds | July 18-19, TBC

Finals | July 20, TBC

To get more information and to view the full schedule for the 2024 WBSC Women's Softtball World Cup, click here.

To watch the Aussie Spirit in the WBSC World Cup Finals, tune in via https://gametime.sport/