Twelve nations will be represented when softball kicks off in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada on Sunday, August 25th. The national teams hail from North, South, and Central America, and are all vying for the same coveted prize: A berth in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
The second of three inter-continental Olympic qualifiers this summer, the Americas qualifier is unique in that two spots in the Tokyo field are up for grabs. A pair of teams will emerge from Surrey with their Olympic dreams fulfilled.
After the opening day of games on Sunday, the tournament will stretch across an eight-day span. The first five days of competition will cut the participating teams in half; six will go on to the Super Round of play, where the Olympic berths will be determined.
Participating Teams
Selected for Group A are: Argentina, Bahamas, Canada, Cuba, Guatemala, and Puerto Rico. Competing in Group B are: Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela.
Schedule of Games
Teams will compete within their assigned groups during the opening round of play; the teams that advance to the Super Round will be seeded based on their opening round results and will then compete against one another. The full schedule of games for the qualifier can be found here.
Fast Facts
- Canada is one of five national softball teams to have participated in the Olympic field every year that softball was offered. The Canadians are looking for their fifth all-time Olympic softball appearance.
- Puerto Rico (1996); Cuba (2000); and Venezuela (2008) are the only other countries competing in this week’s qualifier that have ever participated in Olympic softball.
- Three of the top five teams in the 2018 WBSC international rankings are competing in this qualifier: Canada (3); Puerto Rico (4); and Mexico (5).
- Previously, the Olympic softball field was comprised of eight national teams. The 2020 Games will be the first time that only six teams compete for the gold medal in softball.
- One-half of the 2020 Olympic softball field has already been determined – The United States, Japan, and Italy have already earned the right to go for the gold in Tokyo.
Teams to Watch
Canada — Let’s get the hosting nation out of the way first. The Canadians enter this qualifier as heavy favorites to earn one of the two Olympic berths that are at stake. The program has done an excellent job of building a veteran roster, combining the staying power of still-young stars like Victoria Hayward and Jen Gilbert with returning veterans like Danielle Lawrie and Jenn Salling. The Canadian offense is one of the best you’ll find, and their pitching staff is top-notch. Hosting the qualifier only gives an extra edge to the squad.
Mexico — Thanks to recent success on the diamond, it may seem odd to some that Mexico has never participated in Olympic softball. That could change in 2020, however. The highlight of the Mexican roster is their pitching staff – former Arizona State star Dallas Escobedo anchors the staff, with a pair of former Arizona Wildcats in the circle with her in Taylor McQuillin and Danielle O’Toole. Texas A&M great Tori Vidales and former Missouri and LSU star Amanda Sanchez headline the team’s offensive offering. Team Mexico should dominate Group B in the opening round of this qualifier.
Puerto Rico — It’s been twenty-three years since the Puerto Rican softball team participated in the 1996 Olympics, and the current team’s roster is full of current & former college stars that are itching to realize their own Olympic dream. The Puerto Rican team has excelled on the international stage the past couple of years, including winning the gold medal at the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games. The roster boasts names like Meghan King, Taran Alvelo, Aleshia Ocasio, and Shemiah Sanchez, and though competing in Group A with Canada may lead to some early fireworks, the Super Round could see things turn very interesting.
Players to Watch
Meghan King, Puerto Rico — The now-former Florida State star became a household name after she led FSU to the 2018 Women’s College World Series title, and she sits as the go-to arm for the Puerto Rican team. Even though she’s gotten hit hard at times on the international stage, King has shown why she’s considered one of the best in the world and has played a large role in the Puerto Rican team reaching the heights that they have since 2017. Whether the Puerto Ricans go with a by-committee approach for the qualifier or let their pitchers take the ball and run on their given day in the circle, expect to see King play a large role in whatever success her team has in Surrey.
Danielle O’Toole, Mexico — O’Toole joined the Mexican team this year and is perhaps the most underrated “big name” player in this qualifier. As we noted earlier, Escobedo is a workhorse, but she can’t do it all herself, and O’Toole is a high-quality option for the Mexican staff. Including O’Toole’s former Arizona Wildcat teammate Taylor McQuillin, the Mexican pitching offering is top-notch and should be a strong buoy to the squad as they look to qualify for the country’s first-ever softball Olympic berth. An interesting note: When the Mexican national team participated in the National Pro Fastpitch league this summer as the Cleveland Comets, to get live action to prepare for international competition, O’Toole actually played against some of her now-teammates as she suited up for the Chicago Bandits.
Michelle Floyd, Venezuela — One of few familiar names on the rosters of the South Americans contingent in this qualifier, Floyd joined the Venezuelan team in 2018 and, after gaining Venezuelan citizenship, is competing for the country in the Olympic Qualifier. The Venezuelan softball team participated in the Olympics in 2008, the inaugural and, as yet, only appearance for the country on the softball diamond. Floyd is one of several former US collegiate players on the Venezuelan roster, as well as one of several former Arizona Wildcats in the qualifier field.
Victoria Hayward, Canada — We recently profiled Hayward’s outfield mate Jen Gilbert, but Hayward herself is a vitally-important cog in the Canadian offense. A longtime representative of the maple leaf, Hayward’s career has been a decorated one at every step. She’s been a key cog in the Canadian lineup for so long, it seems almost untrue that she has never appeared in the Olympics for the squad. Since joining the team in 2009, though, she is looking to vie for an Olympic medal for the first time in her career if her team can reach the Tokyo Games.
