May 8, 2008
COMPLETE LIST OF INVITEES
USA Baseball announced on Thursday its initial list of 12 collegiate players who have accepted invitations for the 2008 National Team Trials to be held June 11-23 throughout the northeast and southeast United States. This list includes Mizzou sophomores Kyle Gibson and Aaron Senne. In all, 32 players will be invited to the National Team Trials, with 22 of those players being selected for the National Team roster.
"USA Baseball is excited about the return of the trials period," National Team General Manager Eric Campbell said. "Last year, we had to select the National Team by June 11 and without the aid of a trials period for the first time ever. This is a strong initial group of invitees, and we will continue to work with collegiate coaches to get the best 32 players available into this year's National Team Trials."
USA Baseball's 2008 National Team schedule includes a six-game friendship series against Chinese Taipei and a month-long trip to Europe where the team will compete in Haarlem Baseball Week in the Netherlands and in the IV FISU World Collegiate Baseball Championship in the Czech Republic.
The 2008 USA Baseball National Team will be led by Oral Roberts University head coach Rob Walton, who served as an assistant coach for the 2005 National Team. Walton is joined on the 2008 staff by pitching coach Jerry Meyers (head coach, Old Dominion University), assistant coach Nino Giarratano (head coach, University of San Francisco), and assistant coach Ritch Price (head coach, University of Kansas).
"Much like last summer, we have a challenging international schedule in front of us," Campbell said. "I'm confident that Rob Walton and his staff can lead our team to a successful showing both domestically and in Europe."
