Monica Abbott, Cole Evans, Maria Soto & Vaclav Svoboda complete WBSC Athletes’ Commission as softball athlete representatives

Monica Abbott, Cole Evans, Maria Soto & Vaclav Svoboda complete WBSC Athletes’ Commission as softball athlete representatives
24/11/2022
The four members were elected by athletes from National Federation members in an electronic vote staged from 1-9 November.

The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) announced today the completion of the WBSC Athletes’ Representative election process, with the confirmation of softball athlete representatives: Monica Abbott (USA), Cole Evans (NZL), Maria Soto (VEN) and Vaclav Svoboda (CZE).

Olympians Abbott and Soto were elected to represent Women’s Softball athletes; while Evans and Svoboda will represent Men’s Softball athletes. The four representatives, elected by their peers from all WBSC Softball National Federations in an electronic vote staged from 1-9 November, will serve in the position for the next four years.

The athlete representatives for baseball have already been confirmed: Timothy Ian Atherton (AUS) and Randolph Oduber (NED) for Men's Baseball; and Wing Ki Mui (HKG) and Ayako Rokkaku (JPN) for Women's Baseball.

A WBSC Extraordinary Congress ratified the appointments on Thursday, 24 November, which confirmed the eight (8) elected Athlete Representatives as per the following:

  • Randolph Oduber for Men’s Baseball Athlete Representative in WBSC Executive Board
  • Ayako Rokkaku for Women’s Baseball Athlete Representative in WBSC Executive Board
  • Cole Evans for Men’s Softball Athlete Representative in WBSC Executive Board
  • Monica Abbott for Women’s Softball Athlete Representative in WBSC Executive Board
  • Timothy Atherton for Men’s Baseball Athlete Representative in WBSC Baseball Board
  • Wing Ki (Vanessa) Mui for Women’s Baseball Athlete Representative in WBSC Baseball Board
  • Vaclav Svoboda for Men’s Softball Athlete Representative in WBSC Softball Board
  • Maria Soto for Women’s Softball Athlete Representative in WBSC Softball Board

The Athlete Representatives will form the WBSC Athletes’ Commission, which is an elected body and serves as a link between the athletes and the WBSC, representing future, current and recently retired Baseball/Softball Athletes. A key role is ensuring that the athletes’ voices are heard and are to be used for the improvement of baseball and softball.

Read more about the WBSC Athletes’ Commission here in English and in Spanish.