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‘A super cool opportunity': Two Sask. products to don the Maple Leaf at U15 Softball World Cup
Regina's Keznie Newman will represent Canada at the U15 Softball World Cup in Italy.
Two Saskatchewan softball players will represent Canada at the 2025 WBSC U15 Women's Softball World Cup in Italy.
Kenzie Newman is a pitcher and plays first base.
'It's just a super cool opportunity,' she told CTV News. 'Not everyone gets to [play for Canada].'
Newman is a third-generation softball player. Both her mother – Carrie – and grandfather played the sport, so she says she fell in love with softball at an early age.
'It's just a family thing,' Newman said.
But she is the first member of her family to represent Canada on the world stage.
The World Cup is the second time Newman will have the Maple Leaf across her chest.
She pitched for Canada at the Pan-Am Games earlier this year to qualify her nation for the U15 World Cup for the first time.
'[Saskatchewan] is just a small part of Canada that we get to represent,' Kenzie said. 'It is really important and I'm super grateful.'
Kenzie Newman
Canada pitcher Kenzie Newman throws a pitch at the 2025 Pan-Am Games. (Photo courtesy: Carrie Newman)
Joining her in red and white is Saskatoon's Alayna Dimen.
Dimen, a catcher, got the call from Softball Canada to join the team for the World Cup after not appearing at the Pan-Am Games.
Kenzie's mother, Carrie, doubles as her club team coach. Carrie played in a National Championships but never for Team Canada.
She adds opportunities for girls in the sport continue to grow, particularly at the US college level.
'College softball is huge [and] it's more prominent,' she said. 'All the girls on my team are watching [the College World Series]. They follow it, they watch it on YouTube.'
'Every single one of them aspires to be one of those individuals playing on the field in college,' Carrie added.
Softball made its official Olympic debut at Atlanta in 1996 and was featured in the next three Games before it was removed from the program.
The sport then made its return in Tokyo at the 2020 games and will once again be featured at the 2028 Olympics.
Kenzie hopes there may be more opportunities to play for Canada down the road.
'I just have to keep working and we'll see where we get,' she said.
The 2025 WBSC U15 Women's Softball World Cup begins June 27 in Lombardy, Italy.
Canada opens the tournament against Czechia.
