March 26, 2003
DURHAM, N.C. – Georgia Tech sophomore catcher Mike Nickeas is one of the first eight collegiate players invited to participate in the 2003 USA Baseball National Team Trials that will be held June 21-27 in Tucson, Arizona. The USA National Team will be selected from a pool of 35 players, of which an additional 27 have yet to be determined.
USA Baseball’s final selection of the athletes that will comprise the team that will represent the USA at the 2003 Pan Am Games, is subject to the approval of the United States Olympic Committee. The official team roster will be determined and announced on June 27. For a full roster of the first eight invitees, log on to www.usabaseball.com.
Nickeas is Georgia Tech’s leading hitter in 2003, batting .366 with five home runs and a team-high 22 RBI. He has helped the second-ranked Yellow Jackets to a 21-2 record.
The 2003 USA Baseball National Team will open play on Wednesday evening, July 2 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park at 7:00 pm vs Japan. Team USA will also play an additional seven games in Durham, along with several more domestic exhibition games prior to representing the United States at the Pan Am Games in the Dominican Republic in August.
The list of the first eight players invited to the 2003 USA Baseball National Team Trials is shown below:
Player Pos Yr School HometownHumber, Philip RHP So Rice Carthage, TXJanish, Paul IF So Rice Cypress, TXLumsden, Tyler LHP So Clemson Roanoke, VANickeas, Mike C So Georgia Tech Westlake Village, CANiemann, Jeff RHP So Rice Houston, TXStreet, Huston RHP So Texas Austin, TXVerlander, Justin RHP So Old Dominion Goochland, VAWeaver, Jered RHP So Long Beach State Simi Valley, CA
South Carolina’s Ray Tanner will serve as the head coach for Team USA. He will be assisted by Dick Cooke of Davidson, Mark Scalf of UNC Wilmington, and Mike Weathers of Long Beach State. In addition, USA Baseball announced today that Andrew Kitick of the University of South Carolina sports information department, will serve as the USA Baseball National Team press officer this summer.
USA Baseball will be holding the National Team trials sessions at the Hi Corbett Field facilities in Tucson, beginning the evening of June 21.
