Report By Mark Marek
USA Baseball has announced its final selections for the 2009 14U National Team after a three-day trials period at St. Thomas University. An 18-man roster was selected from a pool of 24 players to represent the country at this year’s 2009 COPABE Pan Am ‘A’ Championships in Portoviejo, Ecuador starting on Saturday.
The 18 players that were selected for the squad are as follows:
Zack Aukes / Woodland, Calif.
Cole Bedford / Deer Park, Texas
John Paul Crawford / Lakewood, Calif.
Joe Dudek / Wall Township, N.J.
Dempsey Grover / Modesto, Calif.
Grayson Ivey / Winder, Ga.
Jake Jarvis / Cypress, Texas
Ryan Kirby / Livermore, Calif.
Jordan Kron / Manteca, Calif.
Jesse Kuet / Huntington Beach, Calif.
Alex Martinez / Union City, Calif.
Cameron Miller / Bellaire, Texas
Nate Mondou / Bonney Lake, Wash.
Stephen Nogosek / Roseville, Calif.
Preston Palmeiro / Colleyville, Texas
Chris Rivera / Fullerton, Calif.
Matt Vogel / Medford, N.Y.
James Ziegler / Chandler, Ariz.
The team will continue to train in Miami Gardens, Fla. until Thursday when the players and staff will depart for Portoviejo, Ecuador for the Pan Am Championships.
“It’s always tough having to make the final cuts,” said head coach Dave Webb. “Most importantly, all 24 of these kids deserved to be here, and are great ball players. If they all continue to work hard, good things will happen for them,” added Webb.
Of the 18 players selected, two will be making their second appearance with the club. Joe Dudek and Chris Rivera are both back for the their second stint with the team after participating on the 2008 team that outscored its opponents 102-1, en route to a 6-0 record at last year’s Pan Am Qualifier in Guatemala City, Guatemala.
“Right now the work has just begun,” said Webb. “The last three days were tough and we’re proud of the all the effort and sacrifices the kids have made, but we are confident that we will be ready when we get to Ecuador,” added Webb.
About USA Baseball
USA Baseball is the National Governing Body of amateur baseball in the United States and is a member of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). The organization selects and trains the World Baseball Classic Team and World Cup Team (and all other USA Baseball Professional Teams); the USA Baseball National Team (Collegiate); the USA Baseball 18U, 16U and 14U National Teams; and the USA Baseball Women’s National Team, all of which participate in various international competitions each year. USA Baseball also presents the Golden Spikes Award annually to top player in college baseball. For more information, please visit www.usabaseball.com and www.goldenspikesaward.com.