By JOE McFARLAND

When Julianna Scott heard that Baseball Canada had named its Women’s National Team Selection Camp roster, her first thought was to find the post on Instagram and look for her friends and teammates.

She didn’t expect to see her name near the bottom of the first column on the official announcement post.

The Spruce Grove product couldn’t believe her eyes.

“I was like, ‘wait a minute, that’s my name, I’m on the list,’” Scott laughed in her conversation with Alberta Dugout Stories: The Podcast. “My dad was actually in a meeting, so I ran in front of him and threw up my arms and he was like, ‘what is happening?’”

Once the shock wore off, the news finally started to settle in that she would be joining the 33-athlete roster for the camp in Ottawa from July 3-7.

The four-day camp, featuring daily practices and intrasquad games, will help the coaching staff select a 20-player roster for the 2024 WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup Finals.

Wearing the maple leaf is something Scott has dreamed about for years, and is now one step closer to accomplishing.

BROTHERLY INFLUENCE

Growing up, Scott says she kind of “fell into catching” as her brother Zach, a pitcher, was always looking for someone to catch for him.

Hoping to follow in his footsteps, she embarked on her own baseball career, playing on whatever team she was able to get onto.

While she tried her hand at soccer and hockey, baseball is where she felt most at home.

“Throughout my life, baseball has always been a thing I’ve enjoyed and a place where I can just be me,” Scott said. “The enjoyment of the game is really what keeps me going.”

She has quickly become a staple of the Baseball Alberta girls program, coming into her own in 2022 as the backstop was named the province’s 16U Girls Player of the Year.

Take a look at our newest @GirlsBaseballAB athlete spotlight on Julianna Scott!!https://t.co/lIW5U5bDFH pic.twitter.com/q9WTFKmvwM
— Baseball Alberta (@BaseballAlberta) October 15, 2020

In 2023, Scott was part of both the 16U and Women’s Open provincial teams which won bronze at their respective national championships.

“Every time you get to put on the Alberta jersey, you kind of just take a moment and step back,” the 17-year-old said. “You step on the field for the first time in it and you’re like, ‘wow, I can’t believe I’m here.’”

Despite the accolades and some great performances, an invite to the national team continued to elude her.

THE NEXT LEVEL

In hopes of playing competitive baseball with women this year, Scott reached out to Patricia Landry last fall in hopes of playing in Ligue Canada-Est.

Created in 2023, the four-team circuit features some of the best players over the age of 17.

Landry, who is a coordinator with Baseball Quebec and assistant coach with Baseball Canada’s women’s program, asked Scott to come play after seeing some video of her play.

Knowing she would be one of the younger players in the league, she says she wanted to keep her goals and expectations realistic as she suited up for the Braves.

“I think you just want to be you,” said Scott, who has been joined in the league by fellow Albertans Kaitlynn Ross and Madison Willan.

“You don’t really want to put too much pressure on yourself – you just want to enjoy the moment and have some fun.”

Playing in Quebec has also given her more exposure, which likely had a hand in Scott being named to the selection camp roster despite not making the original roster of 42 announced last fall.

REALIZING A DREAM

Heading into the July camp, Scott says her mindset hasn’t changed from any other opportunity that has come her way in recent years.

She doesn’t want to take any of it for granted, so will try to enjoy the moment as much as she can.

“It’s not something you get to do every day or every year,” Scott says. “I’m young but I’m looking forward to being around some of the older athletes and some of the top players in the country.”

While everyone is there with the goal of making the national team, she wants to also be a sponge and learn as much as she can.

Scott will also be joined by a handful of Albertans at the camp, including Ross and Willan as well as Ava Greiner, Cassie Matlock, Tyra Stanich and self-proclaimed “prairie girl” Zoe Hicks.

🗞️ Women’s National Team Selection Camp roster announced
🗞️ L'alignement du camp de sélection de l'équipe nationale féminine est dévoilé

EN: https://t.co/96ltnWqkIc
FR: https://t.co/PFMEfa508d pic.twitter.com/GV81JdGfhv
— Baseball Canada Women's National Team (@BaseballCANWNT) June 14, 2024

“I think one of the best things you can do as an athlete is learn from those around you, whether it’s watching the game or talking about it,” she continued.

“Everyone has different experiences and I think being able to share your experiences is just one of the best ways to become a better person and athlete.”

Even if it’s not this year, Scott can’t help but think about the possibility of one day seeing her hard work pay off as she gets the opportunity to represent Canada on the international stage.

“It would mean everything,” she says. “My family has made a lot of sacrifices for me and just to be able to put on that National Team jersey one day would mean a lot for both me and my family.”

Canada will go for gold at the 2024 WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup Finals in Thunder Bay from July 28 to August 3.