To represent your country is one of the greatest honours in an athlete's career says many of the world's top baseball and softball players. As Dominican Republic Olympic baseball and MLB star Julio Rodriquez testified: "Representing my country is just the most special baseball I’ve ever played in my life. It’s just a different feeling. It's the most special moment of my life."
Now to be able to represent your country in two different sports is even more uncommon and prestigious and that is where Zoe Hicks is creating headlines.
The 25-year-old is the everyday third base of the Canadian Women's Baseball National Team participating in the WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup Group A in Thunder Bay, Canada. A few weeks ago, she was the starting first base for the Canadian Women's Softball National Team that finished second in the XVII WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Group C, earning the right to play in the World Championship phase in 2024.
Even with many similarities, playing softball and baseball is not the same. "Softball is a lot quicker, and more intense," Hicks told the WBSC. "You have to be ready at all times. Playing first base in softball, you need to be ready at all times, the same as playing third base in baseball."
Her softball background could be a factor in her playing style on the baseball diamond. "I may play a little closer than other third basemen in baseball. I need to make sure I take my time rather than try to do things quickly. It's the biggest adjustment I need to make."
She also acknowledged the difference in the pace of play. "Your pitcher works a little slower in baseball. You have all the pickoff moves. It's still just being locked in when you're called upon. Be ready when your team needs you."
Hicks is following in the footsteps of another women's softball/baseball trail blazer in Australian Tokyo 2020 Olympian Chelsea Forkin who twice played in a WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup and a WBSC Women's Softball World Cup in the same year - in 2016 and 2018. Forkin played in a total of five WBSC Women’s Softball World Cups as well as three WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cups.
Another Australian has also been a duel code international on the men's side with Premier12 star Aaron Whitefield having also participated in the WBSC U-19 Men’s Softball World Cup 2012 in Parana, Argentina, where he earned a bronze medal.
“It’s always a pleasure when you represent your country, and softball was my first taste of it. I was proud to represent my country, such an honour. Any time I can still represent Australia is a huge honour for me,” Whitefield said during the WBSC Premier12 2019.
He added: “In my experience, I found it easier to make contact in baseball, but harder to drive the ball. In softball is the opposite, it’s harder to make contact but it’s easier to drive the ball: if you hit it, it’s going to drive. The other big difference is that, in softball, the ball can rise; in baseball is always coming down. So it’s also a big change."
Continueng in the Whitefield family, Adam's sister Tamieka has also represented Australia, playing in the past two WBSC Women's Softball World Cups - finishing fourth in Chiba 2018 and helping Australia book a ticket last month to the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Finals 2024 playing second base.
