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ELM GROVE -- While USA Baseball prepares to reenter the Olympic games in two years in Tokyo after a 12-year hiatus, the sport of women's baseball continues to grow, as well.
The Women's National Team arm of USA Baseball takes another step toward completing its 2018 roster this week with the Women's National Open at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C.
And Justin Edwards will a big part of the selection process.
Edwards, the former Wheeling Central and West Liberty University standout, has been selected to serve as a consultant for the event.
He'll be working for former teammate Matt Weagle, who's in his fifth year working with the program, his first as skipper.
"It's going to be neat," Edwards said Friday morning before giving a baseball lesson at the J.B. Chambers Youth Sports Complex. "From what he told me, it's basically the best women's baseball country in the country. They have a tournament toward the end of the summer which is basically the World Baseball Classic for females."
It's actually called the WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup. And, for the first time, it will take place in the United States. It's slated for Aug. 22-31 at the USSSA Space Coast Complex in Viera, Fla.
This week's event is the first step in identifying players who will make the Women's National Team.
"I just sent (Matt) a quick text offering my congratulations on getting the manager's job," Edwards explained. "He asked me what I was doing (this week) and I said, 'Nothing.'"
Weagle informed Edwards he was looking for experienced coaches to help evaluate talent. Edwards leaped at the opportunity.
"I'm just kind of there to help out … provide another set of eyeballs," Edwards said. "It will be pretty neat and should be a good experience."
Weagle, a sixth-round draft pick by the St. Louis Cardinals, and Edwards formed a friendships during their days as players with the Worcester (Mass.) Tornadoes of the Can-Am League about 10 years ago. That was the second stop on a professional baseball career for Edwards, one that also included stints with the Washington Wild Things, York (Pa.) Revolution and Lincoln (Neb.) Saltdogs.
After his playing career ended, Edwards turned to coaching with turns on staffs at his alma mater, Wheeling Jesuit and Marietta College.
He's been out of coaching two years, so Edwards is excited about getting back on the diamond in this way.
"I'd like to get back into coaching at some point, but I like doing what I'm doing now as an elementary physical education teacher at Powhatan Elementary," he said.
Weager and his staff will select 40 players to compete at the national team trials, slated for June 11-14. The final roster will be announced June 18.
From there, the team will train in Florida from Aug. 11-15 before the World Cup.
"It's pretty good baseball from what I've seen," Edwards said. "A lot of talented players from the West Coast … baseball is a little bigger there, female-wise.
"It should be a pretty cool experience."