Historic: WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup bronze medal winner Alli Schroder set to become first female player in Canadian College Conference
01/03/2021
She appeared in three games for Canada at the WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup 2018, starting one for 12.2 innings.
The Vancouver Island University (VIU) Mariners, the baseball club participating in the Canadian College Baseball Conference (CCBC), has signed right-handed pitcher Alli Schroder for the 2021-22 season.
When Schroder makes her debut, she will be the first woman to play in the seven-team conference, including Edmonton Collegiate, Okanagan College, Prairie Baseball Academy, University of Calgary, University of Fraser Valley, Thompson Rivers University.
“I’m beyond excited to have the opportunity to continue my academics and baseball at VIU, and more than anything am excited to blaze a bit of a trail for girls wanting to play college ball in Canada,” Schroder said.
Schroder was born in 2002. She appeared in three games for Canada at the WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup 2018, starting one for 12.2 innings. She went 4.1 innings and earned the win in the bronze medal game against the hosts USA.
Schroder graduated from High School last year and took a year away from school. She practised with the Cranbrook Bandits during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.
Nick Salahub, the Mariners' head coach, told the local press that Schroder was recommended to him for "the player's abilities" without mentioning she was a girl. After talking to her, he said that he believes she's the "right candidate for doing something special."
VIU Mariners coach Nick Salahub: “Any time that barriers have been broken in baseball, it’s because people have been able to do things on the field that you can’t question. She throws well enough and honestly, hard enough.” (📷allischroder16/Instagram) https://t.co/Fn9ileGdjDpic.twitter.com/FE7scpSP90