Zoe Hicks (born January 28, 1998) is a Canadian softball and baseball player and coach. Hicks is currently a coach with the Los Angeles Dodgers in their technology department. She helped Canada to win a bronze medal in softball at the 2023 Pan American Games. Hicks played softball collegiately with Iowa Western Community College before ending her college career with Louisiana Tech.
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | January 28, 1998 Boissevain, Manitoba, Canada[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 173 cm (5 ft 8 in)[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Softball Baseball | ||||||||||||||||||||
| College team | Louisiana Tech Iowa Western | ||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Playing career
editHicks started playing softball at the age of 6 when she started out playing as pitcher, though she walked the bases loaded in this first experience.[3] When the family moved to Austria when she was in grade 8, she continued to practice softball by throwing pitches in the hockey rinks where her father coached.[3]
Her attention to the sport of softball eventually allowed for her to attend Iowa Western Community College and play on the school's softball team.[3] She excelled there and named to three different All-American teams following that sophomore season, including first team National Junior College Athletic Association as well as second team FastPitch News and third team National Fastpitch Coaches Association.[3] She gained Division 1 college attention and initially transferred to Buffalo to play for the university team there as a coach of Iowa Western travelled there to coach the team, he was replaced that same year and Hicks looked for other opportunities. She eventually transferred to Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and Lady Techsters where despite early struggles, her enthusiasm for her sport and teammates allowed her to find success.[3]
She has played in international tournaments for both the provincial Manitoba team and the Canadian national teams.[4] Hicks has also played on the Canadian national women's baseball team including playing for the team at the 2024 Women's Baseball World Cup.[5][6]
Hicks hit a two-run single in the bronze medal game at the 2023 Pan American Games as the Canadians defeated Mexico 7-0 in five innings.[7] Following the medal Hicks said that of the team's win and hopes for future success that "I think it was big for us (to win a medal). We had really high expectations and the tournament didn't go as we had planned. We wanted to play the gold-medal game we wanted to compete for gold. For us, we love coming away with bronze but we have bigger expectations coming for the worlds next year and then following with the Olympics five years from now.”[7]
International career
editHicks represented Canada at the 2024 Women's Softball World Cup and won a bronze medal.[8]
Coaching career
editShe works as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers coaching staff in their technology division.[4] She got the position by first going through a program with the MLB called, 'Take the Field' that was aimed in getting more women involved in baseball. She completed the virtual seminars in 2020 and was placed into a database for clubs to choose from before eventually being selected by the LA Dodgers.[4]
Personal life
editBorn in Boissevain, Manitoba, Hicks grew up enjoying dance and practiced ballet as a child. Her older brother played hockey as her father coached the sport, she herself tried the sport of hockey but her father realized at a young age there was not any interest for it.[3] When she was in grade 8 the family moved to Austria where her father had a coaching opportunity and she continued in dance with professional ballet instruction.[3]
References
edit- ^ "Zoe Hicks profile". Canadian Olympic Committee. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
- ^ "Zoe Hicks profile". Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and Lady Techsters. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g Malcolm Butler (May 6, 2021). "Zoe Hicks: Ballerina Turned Baller". Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and Lady Techsters. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
- ^ a b c Michael Clair (August 10, 2023). "Canada's Zoe Hicks is living a dream, but doesn't want that to be 'extraordinary'". Major League Baseball. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
- ^ Donald Stewart (August 10, 2023). "Manitoban Hicks making her mark at baseball world cup". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
- ^ Kris Ketonen (August 8, 2023). "Team Canada aims to win its way into 2024 Women's Baseball World Cup as qualifier gets underway". CBC News. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
- ^ a b Mike Sawatzky (November 5, 2023). "Winnipeg's Hupé brings home bowling silver". Winnipeg Free Press.
- ^ "Callum Pilgrim walks off dramatic game with grand slam, Canada beats Netherlands to claim Women's Softball World Cup bronze medal". wbsc.org. July 20, 2024. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
External links
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