Address to the House of Representatives, Statements by Members - Australian Emeralds at the Women's Baseball World Cup

Wednesday 6 September 2023

Two extraordinary Canberra women, Ashley Patton and Maddison Erwin, were recently selected for the Australian Emeralds baseball team and have returned from representing Australia at the Women's Baseball World Cup held in Canada. Ash made the Emeralds team at just 16 years of age. Through her work with the Blacktown Workers, the Woden Rebels and the New South Wales state team, she earned her spot on the baseball World Cup Squad. Ash caught the eye of selectors with a firm velocity and a very live arm, which was on display at the World Cup when she struck out three batters in single innings. For Maddison, making the Emeralds has been a goal that she has worked towards with considerable focus. Maddison is a role model for local women's baseball, and she was the first female athlete in the Baseball Canberra's High Performance Program in 2018. Maddi pitched in four innings at the World Cup.

The Australian Emeralds wrapped up their 2023 Women's World Cup campaign in fourth place with a two-win, three-loss record. This included a close one-run loss against powerhouse USA and wins against South Korea and Hong Kong. The Emeralds battled hard to stay in the competition and made their country proud. I congratulate both Ashley and Maddison on their outstanding representation and performance on the world stage.