Ugne Kucinskaite and Lithuania continue to make waves in the global Baseball5 scene. Following a challenging start at the WBSC Baseball5 World Cup 2024, the Lithuanian team found their rhythm, securing back-to-back victories and regaining momentum on the world stage.
After a tough opening day that saw the European champions lose both of their matches, Kucinskaite and her team knew they had to change their approach. "We came here to fight," she stated. "It's our second world championship, and we came here to win. So we changed our mindset. We just put our best on the court, tried our best, and it feels great to come up with the win."
Kucinskaite, a key player for Lithuania, who claimed the Baseball5 European Championship in 2023, faces the unique challenge of adapting to the diverse playstyles of teams from around the world. When asked about the major differences between European and World Cup competition, she noted, "In Europe, we play a certain way. In Asia or South America, they play differently. They’re more aggressive and put together. We need to think faster and make quicker moves."
Their match against Chinese Taipei started off slow, but Lithuania's team quickly found their rhythm. Kucinskaite acknowledged the sluggish first set but expressed pride in how her team responded, "Maybe it’s because it was morning, I don’t know," she said. "We came strong in the second game, showed our power, and now we have one more very important game ahead against Venezuela. I hope this win gives us the motivation to keep playing with strength."
In the same game, Kucinskaite had a minor incident at first base where she collided with a player from Chinese Taipei. Kucinskaite shrugged off the incident, laughing as she said; "I’m used to it. I play basketball, and contact is light. It’s nothing new for me," assuring that it had not impacted her.
Kucinskaite’s journey with Baseball5 began in 2019 when the game was introduced in Lithuania. A coach invited her to practice and she quickly joined the team soon after, becoming one of the oldest and most experienced players in the squad, having represented her country in two European Championships and now her second World Cup.
Reflecting on her first World Cup experience at Mexico 2022, Kucinskaite admitted it was a bit overwhelming. "It was the first huge event for us, and we got caught up in the emotions," she explained. "I remember the game against Mexico, with the full crowd around us. You’re shaking, trying to play your best, but we got a cold shower, as they say, in Mexico. Now we are more calm, more collected, and more prepared for this championship."
Kucinskaite’s growth, both personally and within her team, is evident as Lithuania strives to establish themselves in the world of Baseball5. With each match, the team is becoming stronger, more resilient, and more determined to leave their mark on the international stage.
