WATERLOO, Ont. - Laurier Golden Hawks women's hockey alum Kate Psota (BA '10) has been named to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum's (CBHFM) class of 2026, recognizing her outstanding contributions to the sport as a member of Canada's women's national team.

A native of Burlington, Ont., Psota was inducted into the city's own sports hall of fame in 2023.

This time, she will be inducted alongside former Toronto Blue Jays centre fielder Devon White, national team legend and current St. Louis Cardinals coach Stubby Clapp, and former Montreal Expos pitcher and executive Bill Stoneman.

Longtime Baseball Canada executive director Jim Baba will also be inducted posthumously, while former major league umpire Paul Runge has been selected by the Hall's Veterans Committee.

Psota learned of the honour through a phone call that immediately stood out.

"I got the call and … it came up as Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame," she said. "It was pretty incredible … You're definitely honoured and humbled by that. Nobody expects that."

She added that sharing the moment with those closest to her made it even more meaningful.

"My parents [Ed and Monique] were over the moon thrilled," said Psota. "Those were the first calls right away."

The timing of the news also added a lighthearted personal touch, with Psota set to celebrate a milestone birthday next month.

"I don't think there's a better one than that," she said with a laugh, referring to the induction as an early 40th birthday gift.

This year's induction also carries added significance for Psota, who will enter the Hall alongside one of the players she grew up watching.

"I just used to watch the Blue Jays when I was little - I was right into it," she said. "That's kind of where it all started."

Among those players was Devon White, whose defensive brilliance in centre field left a lasting impression.

"Watching him, he was incredible," Psota said. "He covered so much ground and made some huge catches."

To now be inducted in the same class is something she doesn't take lightly.

"It's so cool," she said. "I'm really excited to get to chat with him more about his career."

Psota's own journey in baseball began at a young age, driven purely by her own interest in the sport.

"I just told them that's what I wanted to do," she said. "I didn't come from a baseball family."

Her parents supported that passion from the outset, enrolling her in T-ball where her natural ability quickly became evident.

"They said it was crazy to watch how quickly I caught on and excelled," Psota said. "They never said no to anything."

This year's induction also carries added significance as Psota follows longtime teammate and close friend Ashley Stephenson into the Hall of Fame, marking back-to-back recognition for two of Canada's most accomplished women's baseball players with Laurier ties.

"Oh, it means everything," Psota said. "Ash has been there from day one. I think I met her when I was 15… our relationship goes way back."

The two first connected through baseball as teenagers and went on to share years as teammates at both the national and university levels.

Their friendship was further strengthened by their immense passion for the game.

"Having someone from home, somebody that close with, that you went to school with through everything… it's really incredible," she said. "It's hard to put into words, but just the amount of support you get from each other."

As her career progressed, Psota witnessed both the tight-knit nature and steady growth of the women's game.

"Women's baseball is a small world," she said. "That's how we all kind of connected."

A mainstay with Canada's women's national team, Psota said representing her country never lost its significance.

"Putting [the jersey] on was always such a huge honour … I would still get butterflies. It didn't matter if it was the first year or the last."

Standing alongside her teammates for the national anthem remained one of the most meaningful moments of her career.

"You're on the [base]line with your anthem playing … and you know you've got young girls watching you," she said. "Portraying that true Canadian identity was just a real honour."

Psota's induction follows a decorated international baseball career. She appeared in every IBAF Women's Baseball World Cup since its inception in 2004, capturing four medals across six tournaments, including a silver medal in 2008. She was named the national team's MVP in 2009 and 2010, and earned World Cup all-star honours at first base in 2010 and 2012.

Reflecting on her journey, Psota pointed to the many people who helped shape her career.

"When you look back, you start to realize how many people had an impact on it … from coaches to support staff to other parents," she said. "It's just a lot of gratitude."

Her success on the diamond was built on a strong foundation as a multi-sport student-athlete at Laurier. As a member of the Golden Hawks women's hockey program, Psota helped lead Laurier to five consecutive OUA championships from 2006 to 2010.

In 2009, she was also recognized for her excellence in the classroom as a CIS Academic All-Canadian, graduating with a double major in Geography and Kinesiology & Physical Education.

Psota was also inducted into the Golden Hawks Hall of Fame in 2025 as a member of the 2009/10 Laurier women's hockey team.

Psota credited her time with the purple and gold for playing a key role in her development, both on and off the field.

"I can't say enough good things," she said. "You definitely feel like an individual there, not just a number … And the teammates that I had at Laurier were awesome."

Even after her playing career, Psota has remained connected to the game. She currently serves on the provincial board for women's baseball in Ontario, helping guide the direction and growth of the sport, while also supporting high-performance programs across the province.

She also spent four summers coaching with the national team from 2021 to 2024.

"[Women's baseball] is growing … It's a slow process," she said of the sport in Ontario. "There's still obstacles and hurdles that we need to overcome."

Among those challenges, she pointed to a lack of awareness around opportunities for girls in baseball.

"You don't know what you don't know," she said. "We've had organizations say, 'Why would we need baseball? We have softball,' or that they don't want diamond time taken away … but you're missing out on 50 per cent of the population."

Despite those challenges, Psota said the defining characteristic of Canadian baseball - at any level - has always been its resilience.

"We weren't always the most skilled, but we never gave up - just straight determination," she said. "Sometimes we won games just on that alone."

The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame's class of 2026 will be formally honoured during an induction ceremony at the Hall of Fame grounds in St. Marys, Ont., on June 20.