DESPITE not getting the chance to represent her country at Olympic level, North Coogee baseballer Kaila Borgo is looking forward to donning the green and gold at the Women’s Baseball World Cup in Florida next month.
The 25-year-old is one of four West Australians to be selected for the Emeralds national squad and will jet off to the US in three weeks to play against the world’s best.
Borgo, from the Melville Braves, said she had been playing the sport since she could remember and was excited to represent her country and WA after years of just missing out.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOW“I played tee-ball when I was younger and then moved up to baseball and realised the boys were bigger, scary and a lot stronger, so I took a couple of years off,” she said.
“When I found out there was a women’s team I started playing with Melville and have always played for them.
“To represent Australia is something I’ve always dreamed of and it’s always so close but yet so far.
“I’ve played for Australia in tournaments but not at the World Cup, so this is huge.”
Hoping to medal, Borgo said the current squad was one of the strongest the team had fielded and expressed her disappointment that the women would not get the chance to represent their country at the Tokyo Olympics.
“I think we are a chance for a medal, we’ve got a really strong team this year and great coaches and we know what we are up against,” she said.
“Obviously every female baseballer wants a chance to be in the Olympics; it’s huge and the pinnacle of sport. And at the same time I’m sure every male softballer would like the chance too.
“It’s a bit of a strange one; every other sport they have men’s and women’s sides, so I don’t see why it’s not the same for baseball and softball.
“I think it should be but it is what it is at this stage.”