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YORKTON - The sport of women’s baseball is finally gaining some added recognition.

When the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame held it’s induction in June Ashley Stephenson was among those added.

Stephenson, who was born in Ontario, is widely regarded as the best player in Women’s National Team history, according to her bio at baseballhalloffame.ca

“A member of the first Women’s National Team in 2004, she excelled for the squad for 15 seasons and competed in eight World Cups.

“She helped lead the national squad to seven medals, including silvers at the WBSC Women’s World Cups in 2008 and 2016 and at the Pan Am Games in 2015. She was also a force on four bronze medal-winning teams at the World Cup (2004, 2006, 2012, 2018). In her final World Cup appearance in 2018, she batted .455 with eight RBIs. 

“Along the way, Stephenson was named Women’s National Team MVP twice (2005, 2008) and an All-Tournament All-Star at the 2008 World Cup.”

Stephenson, now an assistant coach with the Vancouver Canadians in the Toronto Blue Jays organization, said that the call was unexpected.

“I had found out a few months before the induction (in June),” she told Yorkton This Week. “. . . It was a total shock. . . It’s the highest honour of my career.”

That said Stephenson said she played because it was a passion.

“You play because you love to play. You’re passionate about baseball,” she said.

Interestingly though, while Stephenson’s playing days roster was impressive it took a recent tweak to Hall of Fame criteria to open the door to her by giving international play more weight.

Stephenson said that change was important because “women don’t have a professional league.”

With the emergence of the WNBA in basketball, and last year the PWHL in hockey, could a pro baseball league for women happen?

“I would love that before I die – for there to be a league,” said Stephenson.

While admitting it would take a lot of effort she added “I think there are ways to make that happen. . . But, a lot of work needs to be done.”

That said Stephenson said a pro league would add profile to the women's game and give young girls something to aspire too.

More importantly at present that a pro league though is building a stronger foundation for the sport.

Stephenson said in her induction acceptance message she called for action in terms of getting more girls playing baseball.

“We need it to survive,” she said.

The issue is often a total lack of opportunity for young girls to play baseball.

Stephenson said few girls baseball programs exist, and often even playing on a minor boys team is discouraged with organizations funnelling perspective female players to softball.

“It’s just so difficult to sign your daughter up for baseball,” she said.

As a result there is a huge need from Baseball Canada on down to the local level to make it easier for girls to play baseball, said Stephenson, adding a step locally would be for organizations to have a ‘campaign’ for girl’s baseball – someone to promote and facilitate female participation.

“We need to do a better job,” said Stephenson.