Female TC alum to play in Japan Raleigh's Katie Bilan to compete in WCBF in Tokyo

Katie Bilan of Raleigh, North Carolina was selected to play for the North American All-Star Girls Baseball Team "Shooting Stars" in the World Children's Baseball Fair (WCBF) Friendship Games in Tokyo, Japan on July 26-31, 2009.

This summer, Katie will be traveling to Japan with the Shooting Stars, a 12u team, who are the first All-Girl Baseball Team to compete in almost two decades of this annual international event.

Katie was selected to play for the Shooting Stars because of her passionate love for the game of baseball and her desire to meet children from around the world. The Shooting Stars All-Girl Baseball Team is managed by Justine Siegal, who is the first woman to coach professional men's baseball when she joined the 2009 staff of the Brockton Rox.

The WCBF was established under the leadership of World Home Run Kings Mr. Sadaharu Oh and Mr. Hank Aaron in order to foster an environment of world understanding and cultural exchange through the celebration of baseball. This year, WCBF is held in support of baseball's return to the Olympic Games and Tokyo's bid to host the Summer Olympic Games in 2016.

"The love for baseball is the common bond that brings these children together," says Justine Siegal, head coach, and president of Baseball for All. "Soon they will have friends from around the world." Teams attending this year's event are from North America, Cameroon, Australia, Germany, Taiwan, and Japan. Baseball for All is an organization that provides meaningful instruction and opportunities for both girls and boys in baseball.

Katie Bilan, 12, is the daughter of Edgar and Rica Bilan of Raleigh, NC. Katie is the only girl in the Major League of the North Wake County Baseball Association (NWCBA). Her NWCBA Baseball Team, The White Sox, has just clinched the Championship in the Spring 2009 Season!

"I cannot wait to play in Japan and meet other children from around the world," exclaims Katie who attended the Durham Bulls Pepsi Baseball Camp last year and was a Finalist in the Home Run Derby at the 1st Triangle Classic of USA Baseball in Cary.

Aside from baseball, Katie is also a Deputy Black Belt in Olympic-Style Taekwondo with World Champion Taekwondo and has Instructor Level 2 Qualifications. Katie is also a Division Champion in the Southern Oak Equestrian Center Horse Shows and sings with the Leesville Cubs Choir and St. Francis Children's Choir. She has also designed the winning T-Shirt entry for Cisco Systems during the last Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Freedom Walk. Aside from her extra-curricular activities, Katie is also part of the Duke Talent Identification Program (DUKE TIP) and is in the Academically Gifted (AG) Program at Leesville Road Middle School.

Katie will be missing her first week of Middle School as Leesville converts to a Year-Round Academic Calendar. Fortunately, Principal Patti Haimler has been very supportive of Katie and recognizes what a great opportunity this is for her.

For more information on Katie and the Shooting Stars, please contact Justine at 413-301-2748 or by email at justinebaseball@gmail.com. Team pictures can be found at the BaseBall For All's website at www.baseballforall.com.

 

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