McFarland: Alberta unveils 16U Girls Canada Summer Games roster
This the roster for Alberta’s 16U Girls squad that will compete in Canada’s Summer Games. Photo: Baseball Alberta
*This article was originally published on Alberta Dugout Stories on June 24. You can read it here.
June 25, 2025
By Joe McFarland
Alberta Dugout Stories
It’s been a long time coming.
For the first time ever, female baseball has been added to the Canada Summer Games, with the debut coming August 18-24 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Every provincial baseball body has been working towards this summer since the initial announcement back in 2022, and the rosters are starting to take shape.
Baseball Alberta announced its 16-athlete roster on June 20, which will be coached by Chris James, Mark Randall and Tara Sliwkanich.
The latter, who was an award-winning pitcher for Team Alberta during her playing career, says it’s a full-circle moment of sorts.
“Girls and women’s baseball have always deserved bigger and better opportunities,” Sliwkanich told Alberta Dugout Stories.
“The inaugural inclusion of the 16U girls’ baseball event at the Canada Summer Games feels like, at last, we’re creating more opportunities for pathways in girls baseball, which will hopefully help to continue growing the game for girls across the country.”
The announcement came just two days before Baseball Canada’s first National Girls in Baseball Week, launching more awareness and interest in the game from coast to coast.
GETTING A BIGGER STAGE
A lot of hard work went into the eventual announcement about female baseball being included in the Canada Summer Games.
Baseball Canada’s 10 member provinces have spent years trying to increase the opportunities being provided to athletes.
The door really opened in 2019 when, for the first time ever, the 16U Girls Invitational tournament featured entries from every province.
To go along with the 21U and Open categories as well as the Western Canada 14U event, adding a spot in the Canada Summer Games made sense on many levels.
“The addition of female baseball to a prestigious event like the Canada Games will certainly raise the profile of the sport, aid in the development and growth of female baseball, and enhance the athlete experience of preparing for and competing in a major, multi-sport games,” Baseball Canada CEO Jason Dickson said in an October 2024 news release.
He added it was a credit to the provincial executives, staff and local baseball volunteers for making it happen.
GETTING THE CALL
Another contributing factor for the addition was the growing talent pool of girls playing the game.
Nowhere is that more obvious than in Alberta, where the girls’ and women’s programs have flourished in recent years.
Team Alberta has won the 14U Westerns gold medal in three straight seasons while the 16U team won two bronze medals before capturing a silver in 2024.
“We’ve been looking forward to this for a couple of years now and it’s hard to believe it’s happening in just a couple of months,” said Okotoks product Abby Szilagyi.
“It’s really special to know that we are making history for the development of female baseball.”
The pitcher/infielder and 2023 Baseball Alberta 14U Player of the Year expects it to be a very competitive tournament, adding it will give the team a whole new sense of provincial pride.
“I would have never thought when I first started playing baseball that this is where I would have ended up,” said Calgary pitcher/shortstop Ara Siemens. “I think it’s a great opportunity for girls playing baseball all over the country.”
The reigning Baseball Alberta 14U Player of the Year adds it will be another fun experience with a close-knit group of girls.
MORE THAN THE GAME
With a successful track record and known for their “Alberta grit,” the players are excited about the opportunity to show what they are made of in St. John’s.
“We have a very talented roster with tonnes of depth all around the field,” said shortstop/pitcher Brooke Forslund. “A lot of strong arms and good hitters that I believe will take us far in the tournament.”
The Sherwood Park product and 2022 Baseball Alberta 14U Player of the Year says it’s also a chance to show their love of the game to a new audience who might be there for other sports.
It’s a lesson that Sliwkanich is hoping the players understand as it’s a similar environment to the Olympics.
Leaning on her experiences as a player, the Edmonton product says representing Alberta gave her an appreciation for the moment, which served her well in life beyond the diamond with her family, schooling, travels and more.
“I hope the players come away from the tournament having been completely present in every moment – whether it’s every pitch or the parts that come with being part of a multi-sport games like interacting with athletes from other sports at the village or that kind of thing,” she said.
“Part of being in the moment is also about having a deep, unwavering belief in themselves and I hope they come to the games really embodying that completely.”
Alberta is set to play B.C. in their opener on Aug. 19 before dates with Ontario, Quebec, and the hosts Newfoundland and Labrador. The medal games are scheduled for Aug. 24.