GB Women have announced their Captain and Assistant Captain for the 10th Women’s Baseball World Cup.
Dani Briggs will be leading the squad during the group stage in Taiwan in August. Betheliza Dela Paz is set to assist.
“It was a very pleasant surprise to be named captain”, Dani Briggs said.
“Last year I was injured, however I had the amazing privilege of attending the European Championships as part of the staff.
“This allowed me to build strong relationships with the core coaching group and Head Coach Pietro Sollecito, while also learning valuable lessons in how to work with my teammates from a different perspective.
“I’m grateful and motivated by the trust they have in me to fulfil this role.”
Briggs started out playing 8U T-Ball in Australia and then made it to the Fastpitch Softball Nationals.
Years later, she started playing co-ed baseball there but took a four-year break before finding her way back into the sport in the UK.
“A few years ago, I was asked to join the GB Women’s Baseball winter training”, she explained.
“I’ve been 100% committed since that first day and have travelled with the team to Italy, Canada, Czechia, the Netherlands and all over this country for games and training.”
A good captain, she believes, “treads a fine line between player and coach”.
She says it will be her task to read the team well and be able to pick players back up but also know how to tackle difficult conversations when necessary.
“Of course, I also have various individual responsibilities to execute on the diamond in this plan”, she added.
“As a Captain, I’ll give everything else I have to support both the staff and my teammates to help them achieve theirs.
“When we all execute and stay focused on that there’s no limit to what we can do and as a result I know this team will qualify for Rockford, Illinois next year.”
GB WNT will travel to Tainan to take part in the World Cup Qualifier against host nation Chinese Taipei, Cuba, defending World Champions Japan and Venezuela from the 23rd to the 27th of August.
The other half of the group stage will see Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Korea, Mexico and the USA face off against each other in Rockford, Illinois, between the 22nd and the 26th of July.
The three top teams from each group will then advance to the finals which are also set to take place in Rockford from the 19th to the 25th of July 2027.
If you would like to help support GB Women on their World Cup qualifying journey you can do through crowdfunder.co.uk