SURREY, B.C. — A trio of Gaels, two on the current roster and one incoming Gael, have been selected for their respective national softball teams that are competing in the Canada Cup. Alex Casas (Mexico), Allyssa Alano (Philippines), and Chelsea Bennett (Australian Diamonds U19) are in British Columbia playing in this year's Canada Cup Women's International Softball Championship, which concludes on June 26.
 
This marks the first time that all three Gaels have made their respective national teams. Casas finished the 2022 season second on SMC with a .282 batting average, and led the team in runs batted in with 16 while showing versatility, playing four different spots on the infield (third, short, first, catcher). Bennett is the first international recruit signed by head coach Sonja Garnett and has been named to seven-consecutive New South Wales State teams. Alano did not play during her first season as a Gael, but was named Offensive Player of the Year twice in high school while attending Ruben S. Ayala High School.
 
These three Gaels are the first to play for a national team while representing Saint Mary's since Jayda Alaan in the summer of 2019, who also played for Team Philippines. Alaan was a "Blu Girl" for the USA World Cup and the Asia/Oceania Olympic Qualifying Event.
 
This year's Canada Cup is the first time the annual event is played in two years, after the COVID-19 pandemic caused the tournament to be canceled. 2022 marks the 26^th year of the event, showing some of the top female athletes from all across the world with more than 1,500 elite athletes at the national and club levels. The 2022 installment also marks the largest field the Canada Cup has held in the past decade.
 
Pool play began on Monday and continues through Thursday evening, with elimination play beginning on Friday, June 24. A champion will be crowned on Sunday, June 26 in the gold medal game at 6:00 pm PT.
 
For more information about this year's Canada Cup, along with streaming information, click HERE.
 
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