Lucyshyn and Hickingbottom Help Canada Claim Bronze Medal at WBSC U-19 Women’s Softball World Cup
8/19/2019 1:24:00 PM | Softball
BUFFALO, NY – Incoming University at Buffalo softball freshmen Alexis Lucyshyn and Madelyn Hickingbottom were members of the Canadian Junior Women's National Team that made history at the U-19 Women's Softball World Cup on Saturday by taking home the bronze medal at the event.
It was the first time in Canadian history that a medal was won in the U-19 Women's category, with Canada's previous highest place being fourth in 1981, 2015 and 2017. Team USA took home the gold while Japan finished with a silver medal.
Canada finished the World Cup, held August 10-17 in Irvine, CA, with an 8-2 overall record. They breezed through the opening rounds with wins over the Netherlands, Chinese Taipei, and New Zealand to advance to the super round where they shut out Mexico 4-0 before suffering their first lost to Team USA 12-0, and fell to Japan 7-0. Canada then bounced back to defeat China 5-3, Australia 7-0, and Puerto Rico 5-4 to punch their ticket to the bronze medal game, where they defeated Australia 5-4.
Lucyshyn was a mainstay both offensively and defensively as she saw action in nine out of ten games. She finished the World Cup with a .357 batting average, five hits, a triple, four RBI, a .500 slugging percentage and a .444 on base percentage in 14 at bats. As the only southpaw on the team, Lucyshyn finished the World Cup with a 6.15 ERA and posted a 3-1 record, giving up 13 runs on 21 hits and allowed just four walks while striking out 12 over 13.2 innings of work.
"I am forever grateful to have been a part of this historic Canadian Junior Women's National Team," said Lucyshyn. "It was an amazing experience to play this level of ball and compete against other high-level athletes from other countries. One of the most important things I learned from this opportunity was to contribute to the team in any way possible in order to find success as one team, whether it was going in to finish a game, pinch hitting or supporting the team from the bench and I look forward to taking those lessons with me to Buffalo."
Hickingbottom was a force in the circle for Team Canada as she recorded a team-best 0.43 ERA in five appearances. The right-hander posted a 3-0 record and one save while allowing just one earned run on eight hits while striking out a team-best 20 batters over 16.1 innings of work, while holding opponents to a .148 batting average. Hickingbottom's lone save of the tournament was a big one as it secured the victory for Canada in the bronze medal game.
"It's an unbelievable feeling to be able to say that I had any part in winning a medal for Canada," said Hickingbottom. "It is something I have always dreamed of and it still feels surreal. I learned a lot about playing for something bigger than yourself and what that feels like and I'm excited to bring that newfound passion to UB."
"I'm very proud of Maddie and Alexis," said UB softball head coach Mike Ruechel. "The opportunity to compete against some of the best players in the world provides an invaluable experience and to have that level of success is extraordinary. What a great way to come into our fall season. It's going to be a fun year!"
It was the first time in Canadian history that a medal was won in the U-19 Women's category, with Canada's previous highest place being fourth in 1981, 2015 and 2017. Team USA took home the gold while Japan finished with a silver medal.
Canada finished the World Cup, held August 10-17 in Irvine, CA, with an 8-2 overall record. They breezed through the opening rounds with wins over the Netherlands, Chinese Taipei, and New Zealand to advance to the super round where they shut out Mexico 4-0 before suffering their first lost to Team USA 12-0, and fell to Japan 7-0. Canada then bounced back to defeat China 5-3, Australia 7-0, and Puerto Rico 5-4 to punch their ticket to the bronze medal game, where they defeated Australia 5-4.
Lucyshyn was a mainstay both offensively and defensively as she saw action in nine out of ten games. She finished the World Cup with a .357 batting average, five hits, a triple, four RBI, a .500 slugging percentage and a .444 on base percentage in 14 at bats. As the only southpaw on the team, Lucyshyn finished the World Cup with a 6.15 ERA and posted a 3-1 record, giving up 13 runs on 21 hits and allowed just four walks while striking out 12 over 13.2 innings of work.
"I am forever grateful to have been a part of this historic Canadian Junior Women's National Team," said Lucyshyn. "It was an amazing experience to play this level of ball and compete against other high-level athletes from other countries. One of the most important things I learned from this opportunity was to contribute to the team in any way possible in order to find success as one team, whether it was going in to finish a game, pinch hitting or supporting the team from the bench and I look forward to taking those lessons with me to Buffalo."
Hickingbottom was a force in the circle for Team Canada as she recorded a team-best 0.43 ERA in five appearances. The right-hander posted a 3-0 record and one save while allowing just one earned run on eight hits while striking out a team-best 20 batters over 16.1 innings of work, while holding opponents to a .148 batting average. Hickingbottom's lone save of the tournament was a big one as it secured the victory for Canada in the bronze medal game.
"It's an unbelievable feeling to be able to say that I had any part in winning a medal for Canada," said Hickingbottom. "It is something I have always dreamed of and it still feels surreal. I learned a lot about playing for something bigger than yourself and what that feels like and I'm excited to bring that newfound passion to UB."
"I'm very proud of Maddie and Alexis," said UB softball head coach Mike Ruechel. "The opportunity to compete against some of the best players in the world provides an invaluable experience and to have that level of success is extraordinary. What a great way to come into our fall season. It's going to be a fun year!"
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