From Codi Warren/USA Softball:
CLEARWATER, Fla. — The training roster for the 2019 USA Softball Men’s National Team (MNT) has been announced today as 18 athletes have been selected following three days of Selection Trials, USA Softball announced. Selected by members of the Men’s National Team Selection Committee (MNTSC), these athletes will compete in select tournaments/invitational events before the final 17-player roster for the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Men’s World Championship and the 15-player roster for the Pan American Games will be finalized.
“The players in attendance certainly made our job on the selection committee difficult,” said 2019 MNT Head Coach Gregg Leather (Staten Island, N.Y.). “There were a lot of talented players and the committee has assembled a team that gives the United States a great opportunity to capture Gold this summer at the WBSC World Championship and Pan American Games.”
Click here to see the athletes selected to the 2019 USA Softball Men’s National Team training roster
Representing the U.S. this summer will be a roster that includes 11 veteran members from the 2017 WBSC Men’s World Championship roster while 12 athletes were on the 2017 Pan American Championship roster that earned the Bronze, the first international medal for the MNT program since 2003.
Collegiately, Kevin Castillo (Long Beach, Calif.) is an Assistant Coach at Long Beach State University while Jonathan Lynch (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) is an Assistant Coach at Central Methodist University.
Announced in fall of 2018, Leather will lead the Red, White and Blue in their quest to the podium in 2019. The complete coaching staff and list of National Team events, including exhibition games, will be released at a later date.
“The strength of this team will be a strong offensive lineup, great defense and a deep pool of players available to step up to the plate when the game is on the line,” Leather continued. “Our entire pitching staff has experience in international events, so they know what to expect and how to prepare while our strong defense should keep us in any contest.”
Follow along all summer with all of the USA Softball National Teams at USASoftball.com<http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball>.
The 18 Members of the Men’s National Team training roster
- Tyler Bouley, Champlin, Minn.
- Kevin Castillo, Long Beach, Calif.
- Jenner Christiansen, Hayward, Calif.
- Joel Cooley, St. Paul, Minn.
- Yusef Davis, Long Beach, Calif.
- Tyler Dudley, Battle Creek, Mich.
- Jon Gwizdala, Bay City, Mich.
- Jonathan Lynch, Cape Girardeau, Mo.
- Tony Mancha, Las Cruces, N.M.
- Nick Mullins, Toms River, N.J.
- Jeff Nowacyzk, Midland, Mich.
- Erick Ochoa, Imperial, Calif.
- Matt Palazzo, Pleasant Hill, Iowa
- Matt Ratliff, American Fork, Utah
- Gil Saenz, Denver, Colo.
- Cameron Schiller, Prescott, Ariz.
- Marcus Tan, Union City, Calif.
- Duane Weiler, Bedford, PA