Hicks clicks for Team Canada at Women’s Baseball World Cup
Zoe Hicks is once again making her mark at the Women’s Baseball World Cup in Thunder Bay, as Team Canada gears up for its bronze medal game against Mexico Saturday.
It’s been a busy summer for the 26-year-old Boissevain product as Hicks chases her second third-place finish in just two weeks, having recently helped Canada secure a podium spot against the Netherlands in the Softball World Cup.
Now, she’s shifted gears for baseball — and the lone Manitoba product on the Canadian team did not miss a beat, proving why she’s the reigning MVP of Baseball Canada’s women’s national team.
Baseball Canada photo
Boissevain product Zoe Hicks has had a busy summer representing Canada in softball and baseball.
In Canada’s first game of the tournament, Hicks hit a three-run double that capped a five-run first-at-bat in a 7-2 victory over Mexico and led to Hicks being named the WBSC player of the day.
“Just excited to stay on the field,” said Hicks — who says her body is feeling tired after the intensity of the last few weeks — on Friday. “I love softball, I love baseball, and to be able to play them both so close together is awesome. I would love a little bit more time to just get situated, but it is what it is, and I’m glad I can make them both.”
Canada has gone 3-2 in the World Cup this year, defeating Mexico, Venezuela and the World No. 2 ranked Chinese Taipei to reach the bronze-medal game.
“The couple of losses in the middle are kind of a bump in the road,” said Hicks. “Got caught up in some errors, and then just could never claw back. But I think the game against Venezuela was a big one for us, and then the game (Thursday) to be able to claw back and win was big. So good energy definitely going into the bronze medal game.”
At last year’s Women’s Baseball World Cup, Hicks had an impressive .667 batting average.
“The biggest thing is I just want to help my team win and score runs,” she said. “So whenever there are runners on base, I put a little bit more pressure on myself to be able to cash them in.”
Hicks has played softball since she was six years old but didn’t start her baseball career until 2018 when she was asked to play on her dad’s senior team.
“I just love being on the diamond,” said Hicks. “Love anything to do with diamond sports. So the more that I can be involved, the more that I can play, the better.”
Hicks lived in Red Deer, Alta., until Grade 9 before moving to Calgary for high school. After her Grade-11 year, she moved back to Manitoba with her dad, hoping to be recruited to colleges for softball.
“The support of a small town is always so big,” said Hicks of Boissevain. “It definitely gives you a little bit of a chip on your shoulder. There’s not many people who have done big things coming out of this specific small town.”
“You kind of have to make your own roadmap. And that’s been my viewpoint on it. I’m going to figure out a way to get Zoe Hicks where Zoe Hicks wants to be, and I have the support of my small town by me,” she added.
After playing two years for Iowa Western Hicks transferred to Louisiana Tech, a NCAA Division 1 program — where she had a .275 batting average over three seasons.
On and off the field, Hicks has contributed to baseball — adding working for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2022 and 2023 as a Technology Associate to her resume with the Take the Field Program.
“It’s wild to me that we’re still having firsts in 2024 when it comes to women in sports, women in major league sports,” said Hicks. “But it’s been great to see everyone get involved. Myself, I played internationally for the last three years and to be able to use that experience in a professional organization was just super fun.”
The talented athlete will hit the field at 10 a.m. CT on Saturday, hoping to secure bronze.
After Worlds wraps up, Hicks will represent Manitoba at the baseball nationals in Quebec (Aug 15-18).
Credit: Hicks clicks for Team Canada at Women’s Baseball World Cup
