Schmidt Accepts Invitation to 2006 USA Baseball National Team Trials
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas sophomore left-handed pitcher Nick Schmidt has accepted an invitation to the 2006 USA Baseball National Team Trials on June 22-July 1 in Durham, N.C.
The trials will be held in exhibition games with the New England Collegiate League. Schmidt is one of 20 players to accept the initial invitation with 16 more players to be announced at a later date. The USA Baseball National Team will consist of a 22-man roster that will be chosen from the 36-player pool that will be announced on July 2.
Schmidt, a native of St. Louis, is 8-2 on the season with a 2.77 ERA. He has worked 94.2 innings, holding opponents to a .196 batting average and fanning 115. The 115 strikeouts rank as the third-most in a single season in school history and are currently second in the SEC.
Schmidt was also selected to the team trails last season, but did not make the 22-man roster.
"The National Team is defined by athlete performance in the college game,” said USA Baseball General Manager of National Teams Eric Campbell. “This short list of invitees to the trials represents non-draft eligible players who’s 2006 performance on the field has warranted an invite to the trials. We will continue to watch the rest of the season to find those remaining invitees that demand consideration.”
USA Baseball will announce a second list of invitees to the trials in late May, and a final list of invitees in June.
The 2006 USA Baseball National Team will look to defend their FISU World University Baseball Championship this August in Havana, Cuba. Team USA will also participate in the 35th Annual USA vs. Japan Collegiate Championship Series here in the USA, July 25-29 and several Friendship Series at their home ballpark – Durham Bulls Athletic Park this summer. USA Baseball will announce a full National Team game schedule at a later date.
The 20 players that have accepted invitations to the 2006 USA Baseball National Team Trials:
Player Pos Yr School Hometown
Alvarez, Pedro IF Fr Vanderbilt New York, N.Y.
Arencibia, J.P. C So Tennessee Miami, Fla.
Arrieta, Jake RHP So TCU Plano, Texas
Augenstein, Bryan RHP So Florida Sebastien, Fla.
Barney, Darwin IF So Oregon State Beaverton, Ore.
Bianucci, Mike IF Fr Auburn Fairfax, Va.
Borbon, Julio OF So Tennessee Santo Domingo, D.R.
Clark, Preston C Fr Texas Rockwall, Texas
Cozart, Zack IF So Mississippi Collierville, Tenn.
Doolittle, Sean OF/LHP So Virginia Tabernacle, N.J.
Frazier, Todd IF So Rutgers Toms River, N.J.
Krum, Austin OF So Dallas Baptist Highlands Ranch, Co.
Morgan, Sean RHP So Tulane Sugar Land, Texas
Pelzer, Wynn RHP So South Carolina Holly Hill, S.C.
Price, David LHP So Vanderbilt Mufreesboro, Tenn.
Roemer, Wes RHP So CS Fullerton Glendora, Calif.
Savery, Joe LHP/IF So Rice Bellaire, Texas
Schmidt, Nick LHP So Arkansas High Ridge, Mo.
Sublett, Damon IF/RHP So Wichita State Wichita, Kan.
St. Clair, Cole LHP So Rice Santa Ana, Calif.
Vanderbilt’s Tim Corbin will serve as the Field Manager for Team USA. He will be assisted by Mark Machtolf of Gonzaga, Jim Schlossnagle of TCU, and Tom Slater of Auburn.
