24 Japanese Players identified for Women’s Baseball World Cup

Record 210 Candidates Joined Tryouts

Monday, March 5, 2012

SAITAMA, Japan – On March 3 and 4, the Women’s Baseball Association Japan hosted tryouts in Saitama Prefecture for the V IBAF Women's Baseball World Cup in Edmonton, Canada, Aug. 10-19, and 24 players were selected which will be reduced to 18 – 20 eventually to form the IBAF roster.

Ayako Rokkaku (20), recipient of the IBAF 2010 Woman Athlete of the Year Award (MVP of the Women World Cup) and star player Ayumi Kataoka (25) were among the 24 preliminary candidates and will aim with coach Shintani to win the third consecutive world championship.

Dubbed “Madonna Japan”, like “Samurai Japan” for WBC National Team and “Nadeshiko Japan” for reigning Champion of World Women’s soccer, Ayumi called Japanese sports fans’ for support saying “Remember not only Nadeshiko Japan but also Madonna Japan, both the national pride of women’s sports”

(From IBAF Website)