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Iowa to Represent USA at The 83rd NBC World Series

June 9, 2017

WICHITA, Kan. — The USA National Team, represented by the University of Iowa baseball team, is coming to Wichita and will compete in Championship Week of the 83rd NBC World Series, July 29–August 6. The Hawkeyes were selected by USA Baseball to represent the United States at the World University Games in Tapei, Taiwan, in August.

The Hawkeyes won 39 games during the 2017 season, claimed their first Big Ten Tournament title, and qualified for a second NCAA Regional in three seasons under Iowa head coach Rick Heller. The team hit 71 home runs and posted a .284 team batting average.

“When we were approached by USA Baseball,” says NBC World Series General Manager/Tournament Director Kevin Jenks “The opportunity of having the USA National Team/Iowa Hawkeyes play in the premier summer showcase for college-age amateur players, we knew it was a no-brainer. We’re thrilled to have coach Heller bring the Hawkeyes to Wichita to compete against the best.”

This is the fifth time a US National Team has played in the NBC World Series. Team USA played in 1995 and 1999. The NJCAA National Team played in 2014 and 2016.

“This will be an excellent opportunity for our team to compete before we head to Taiwan for the World University Games,” said Heller. “We’re grateful that the NBC has awarded us this opportunity.”

The USA National Team will begin pool play at the 83rd NBC World Series on Sunday, July 30 and continue with games on Tuesday, August 1, and Thursday, August 3. Should the USA National Team qualify out of pool play, it could potentially play on August 4-5 and eventually in the National Championship on August 6.

The 83^rd NBC World Series will be played July 22–August 6, with all games being played at Historical Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. To order individual game tickets go to www.selectaseat.com or call 316-977-9400.

About NBC: The NBC World Series is the largest and the oldest continuous sporting event in the United States. This non-profit 501c(3) foundation operates under the supervision of a 16-member volunteer board of directors. To learn more visit www.nbcbaseball.com.

Contact: Tim Slack

Phone: (316) 977-9400

E-mail: tim@nbcbaseball.com

Kansas High Schooler Will Play For USA Baseball

February 4, 2015

DURHAM, N.C. — USA Baseball announced the 36 players named to the 2015 USA Baseball Women’s National Team on Tuesday, following a multi-event selection process approved by the U.S. Olympic Committee. Trials will be held May 22 to 24, 2015, with the final 18-player USA Baseball Women’s Pan American Games Team being named following the event. Ryleigh Buck of Wellington, KS is one of the players selected to the team. In March, she’ll travel with the team to the Dominican Republic to play in a qualifier and represent USA Baseball. Ryleigh will then have a chance to be selected to play in the Pan Am Games.

“Finalizing Trials selections is always tough and this year proved to be particularly difficult with the level of talent we saw at the inaugural Women’s National Open,” Women’s National Team Director, Ashley Bratcher, said. “We are extremely pleased with the group of women we have coming into Trials in May and look forward to the next phase of preparation for this summer’s Pan American Games.”

Players were named to the Trials from the 2014 USA Baseball Women’s National Team Identification Series, the 2015 USA Baseball Women’s National Open, as well as a petition process and discretionary selections.

The roster is comprised of athletes from 13 different states, as well as an athlete from Washington, D.C. California is the most represented state with nine athletes named to the Trials roster, followed by Texas with six and Florida with four. Illinois and South Carolina each have a trio of athletes competing for a roster spot, while Georgia and Washington each send a pair of players. Alaska, Colorado, Kansas, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia will each have a representative at the Trials.

The 2015 USA Baseball Women’s National Team will be managed by Jonathan Pollard who led the program to the silver medal as manager at the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup in Miyazaki, Japan in 2014. Pollard, a resident of Woburn, Mass., also won the silver medal with the Women’s National Team at the 2012 IBAF Women’s World Cup as the pitching coach.

Joining Pollard in the dugout is pitching coach Matt Weagle who served in the same role for the silver-medal winning 2014 USA Baseball Women’s National Team. A native of Charlton, Mass., Weagle guided a pitching staff that posted a 2.07 ERA in 65 and one-third innings pitched last summer.

Off the field, the Women’s National Team is guided by director, Ashley Bratcher. Kim Moncel returns to the Women’s National Team as the certified athletic trainer, and Cameron Harris will join the team as the press officer for the Pan American Games.

For more information on the Women’s National Team, please visit USABaseball.com.

The 36-player USA Baseball Women’s National Team Trials roster is as follows:

Name, Position, Hometown
Veronica Alvarez, C, Miami, Fla.
Gabrielle Augustine, RHP, Palmerton, Pa.
Susanne Boden, LHP, Atlanta, Ga.
Ryleigh Buck, IF/RHP, Wellington, Kan.
Cayla Calderon, OF/IF, Canyon Country, Calif.
Samantha Cobb, OF/RHP, Garland, Texas
Megan Dedrick, IF/RHP, Everett, Wash.
Eliza DeMers, IF/OF, Rochester, N.Y.
Caitlin Everett, OF, Sunnyvale, Texas
Riley Frisbie, RHP/C, Countryside, Ill.
Lauren Frost, IF/RHP, Eagle River, Alaska
Alex Fulmer, RHP, Little Mountain, S.C.
Tera Gainer, IF/OF, Tallahassee, Fla.
Veronica Gajownik, IF/RHP, Chuluota, Fla.
Brittany Gomez, OF, New Braunfels, Texas
Jade Gortarez, IF/RHP, Riverside, Calif.
Kayla Haberstich, RHP, Bartlett, Ill.
Tara Harbert, OF, Boulder, Colo.
Tamara Holmes, OF, Albany, Calif.
Lindsay Horwitz, RHP, Gurnee, Ill.
Sarah Hudek, LHP/OF, Sugar Land, Texas
Anna Kimbrell, C/RHP, Fort Mill, S.C.
Sydney Love-Baker, C, Washington, D.C.
Meaghan May, C, Spring, Texas
Stacy Piagno, RHP, St. Augustine, Fla.
Nicole Rivera, IF/RHP, Lakeside, Calif.
Cydnee Sanders, IF/RHP, Magnolia, Texas
Marti Sementelli, RHP, Sherman Oak, Calif.
Michelle Snyder, IF/RHP, Wenatchee, Wash.
Laura Trout, OF, Alexandria, Va.
Malaika Underwood, IF, San Diego, Calif.
Emily Grace White, RHP/OF, Marietta, Ga.
Kelsie Whitmore, OF/RHP, Temecula, Calif.
Donna Williams, RHP, Fremont, Calif.
Nichole Willis, C, Clovis, Calif.
Codee Yeske, IF/RHP, Lexington, S.C.

NBC Joins ABCA In Supporting MLB And USA Baseball Youth Arm Care Initiative

January 28, 2015

ABCA OFFICIALLY SUPPORTS PITCH SMART

The American Baseball Coaches Association board of directors votes unanimously

DURHAM, N.C. — USA Baseball, Major League Baseball and the American Baseball Coaches Association announced on Tuesday that the ABCA is officially supporting USA Baseball and MLB’s joint youth arm care safety initiative, Pitch Smart. The announcement follows the ABCA’s board of directors unanimously voting in favor of supporting the initiative that was launched in late 2014.

“Major League Baseball is pleased that the ABCA has endorsed the Pitch Smart pitching safety program,” said MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, who received the 2015 ABCA Honor Award on January 4, 2015 at the ABCA Convention. “Keeping pitchers healthy should be a common goal of everyone in baseball. Pitch Smart is a great example of the entire baseball community, professional and amateur, coming together to make our game better.”

The Association is involved in numerous programs that promote the integrity of the profession and the development of the game of baseball, and, each January, the ABCA hosts the largest baseball convention in the world. Approximately 4,000 coaches attend the convention, which is held at various locations around the country. The 2015 iteration was attended by commissioner, Rob Manfred, as he continues to further engage the amateur baseball community.

“With its endorsement of Pitch Smart, it is clear that the American Baseball Coaches Association is making player health and safety a priority in everything it does,” said USA Baseball’s executive director/CEO, Paul Seiler. “It is the support of the ABCA and other organizations that confirms our belief that baseball has united in protecting our young athletes.”

The ABCA is committed to the success and growth of baseball through youth baseball. In the past 12 years, thousands of young people have gone through ABCA sponsored youth clinics. Each year, several hundred young players attend ABCA clinics in Montgomery, Alabama; Lewiston, Idaho; and Grand Junction, Colorado.

“The ABCA is proud to endorse Pitch Smart along with Major League Baseball and USA Baseball,” said ABCA executive director, Craig Keilitz. “Education is one of our organization’s cornerstones and the health and safety of our young players is a major priority. Pitch Smart provides clear guidelines for our coaches, particularly those who are new to the profession, and we look forward to being involved in the further development of this initiative for years to come.”

The ABCA, founded in 1945, is the primary professional organization for baseball coaches at the amateur level. Its over 6,600 members represent all 50 states and 24 countries. Since its initial meeting of 27 college baseball coaches in June 1945, Association membership has broadened to include eight divisions: NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA, Junior College, Pacific Association Division, High School and Youth.

About the American Baseball Coaches Association

Established in 1945, the American Baseball Coaches Association is the top professional association for amateur baseball coaches. Its over 6,600 members represent all 50 states and 24 countries. Association membership has broadened to include eight divisions: NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA, Junior College, Pacific Association Division, High School and Youth. The annual ABCA Convention hosts over 4,000 coaches and features the ABCA Clinics, Trade Show and other activities. The 72nd annual ABCA Convention will be held Jan. 7-10, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee.

About USA Baseball

USA Baseball is the national governing body for the sport of baseball in the United States and is a member of the United States Olympic Committee and the World Baseball Softball Confederation. The organization selects and trains the World Baseball Classic, World Cup and Pan Am teams (and all other USA Baseball Professional Teams); the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team; the USA Baseball 18U, 15U and 12U 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 the top amateur baseball player in the country. For more information, please visit USABaseball.com.

ABCA OFFICIALLY SUPPORTS PITCH SMART

The American Baseball Coaches Association board of directors votes unanimously

About the American Baseball Coaches Association

About USA Baseball

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