Canada, with a roster that includes Paradise native Heather Healey, extended its record of qualifying for the women’s baseball World Cup over the weekend in Aguascalientes, Mexico.
The Canadians finished with a 5-2 overall record in a tournament in Aguascalientes. That included an 11-1 win over host Mexico in Sunday’s bronze-medal game.
However, the Canadians had already qualified for the 2020 World Cup before the game against the Mexicans. That happened when Cuba defeated the Dominican Republic on Saturday, ensuring Canada would have a top-four finish in the eight-team regional tourney.
Canada, ranked No. 2 in the world behind six-time defending World Cup Japan, has participated in every women’s World Cup since the event began in 2004. The Canadians won a bronze medal at the last competition in 2018.
Healey, who was used as a reliever in the qualifying tournament this past week, has participated in two World Cups, Her first was in 2014, when Canada finished just off the podium, losing in extra innings to Australia in the bronze-medal game. However, the 22-year-old Newfoundlander picked up a silver in 2016 when the Canadians lost to the Japanese in championship final,
World Cups are held every two years. Healey didn’t play in the 2018 event as she was training for a career in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. She has since graduated and is working as a Mountie in Saskatchewan