2008 USA Jr. Men
USA Junior Men begin preparation for 2008 World Championships
1/23/2008
Oklahoma City, Okla. — The USA Softball Junior Men’s team will begin its preparation to the World Championship with a training camp January 23-26 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif. The participating members of the national training team will report to camp on Wednesday and practice through Saturday before returning home.
Preparing for competition at the International Softball Federation VIII Jr. Men’s World Championship, June 20-29 in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada, the Red, White and Blue are led by head coach Tim Lyon (South Jordan, Utah), and assistant coaches Gary Mullican (Yorba Linda, Calif.) and Scott Standerfer (Charleston, Ill.). Team USA finished fifth in the 2005 World Championships, tying their best finish in World Championship history. In 1993, they posted a 4-8 record and placed fifth as well.
The list of 22 participants for the January 23-26 team camp include:
Robbie Black (Salem, Utah)
Jeremy Cline (Pauma Valley, Calif.)
Danyel Dondero (Big Pine, Calif.)
Mitchell Elliott (Wexford, Pa.)
Dominic Garcia (Kansas City, Kan.)
Drew Gunderson (St. Paul, Minn.)
Bryant Hale (Pinckneyville, Ill.)
James Hartman (Hartford, S.D.)
Mike Hayes (Salem, Utah)
Adam Henry (Conception Jct., Mo.)
B.J. Hunhoff (Harrisburg, S.D.)
Tyson Lambourne (Spanish Fork, Utah)
Cedrick Lang (Sioux Falls, S.D.)
Gentry Mitchell (Spanish Fork, Utah)
Chris Norris (Spanish Fork, Utah)
Robert Reder (Aurora, Ill.)
Nick Santos (Pueblo, Colo.)
Tony Viger (Sioux Falls, S.D.)
Justin Warne (Sioux Falls, S.D.)
Mitch Warne (Sioux Falls, S.D.)
J.T. Weststeyn (Ballwin, Mo.)
Kevin Williams (Lake Crystal, Minn.)
ASA Announces 2008 USA Softball Junior Men’s National Team Roster
1/31/2008
Oklahoma City, Okla. — The Amateur Softball Association, the National Governing Body of Softball in the U.S., announced today the 2008 USA Softball Junior Men’s National team roster that will compete in the 2008 World Championship.
“I think thisis the best group we have ever put together for the Junior Men’s program,” said head coach Tim Lyon. “This team is as prepared as any team we have ever sent to the World Championship and now it’s up to them. We tell the athletes it’s how hard they work between now and June that will dictate whether they are on the medal stand.”
The Red, White and Blue will compete at the International Softball Federation VIII Jr. Men’s World Championship, June 20-29 in Whitehorse, Yukon Canada. Team USA will be led by head coach Tim Lyon (South Jordan, Utah), and assistant coaches Gary Mullican (Yorba Linda, Calif.) and Scott Standerfer (Charleston, Ill.). Team USA finished fifth in the 2005 World Championships, tying their best finish in World Championship history. In 1993, they posted a 4-8 record and placed fifth as well.
The 2008 USA Softball Junior Men’s National Team rosters includes:
Robbie Black (Salem, Utah)
Jeremy Cline (Pauma Valley, Calif.)
Nicholas Cole (Sacramento, Calif.)
Mitchell Elliott (Wexford, Pa.)
James Hartman (Hartford, S.D.)
Mike Hayes (Salem, Utah)
B.J. Hunhoff (Harrisburg, S.D.)
Tyson Lambourne (Spanish Fork, Utah)
Cedrick Lang (Sioux Falls, S.D.)
Gentry Mitchell (Spanish Fork, Utah)
Chris Norris (Spanish Fork, Utah)
Robert Reder (Aurora, Ill.)
Nick Santos (Pueblo, Colo.)
Tony Viger (Sioux Falls, S.D.)
Mitch Warne (Sioux Falls, S.D.)
J.T. Weststeyn (Ballwin, Mo.)
Kevin Williams (Lake Crystal, Minn.)
Game schedule set for Junior Men’s World Championships in June
3/26/2008
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — The ten-day schedule of 70 overall games at the International Softball Federation’s VIII Jr. Men’s World Championship was recently announced by the sport’s world governing body. Taking place in Whitehorse, Yukon (Canada), the fast pitch event will be played from June 20-29. The 19-and-under national teams from 12 countries will participate.
In the northwest corner of the country, the Pepsi Softball Centre is in an area thatdaily gets over 20 hours of daylight, meaning that the teams will play against nature’s backdrop with no artificial (stadium) lights.
The U.S. will look to better their fifth place finish in 2005 as they will open play on June 20 against Japan at 7:30 p.m. local (See entire schedule below). NOTE: Whitehorse, Yukon (Canada) is two hours ahead of CST.
June 20 – USA vs. Japan – 7:30 p.m. Local (9:30 p.m. CST)
June 21 – USA vs. Denmark – 1:30 p.m. Local (3:30 p.m. CST)
June 22 – USA vs. South Africa – 5 p.m. Local (7 p.m. CST)
June 23 – USA vs. New Zealand – 4 p.m. Local (6 p.m. CST)
June 24 – USA vs. Botswana – 11 a.m. Local (1 p.m. CST)
USA vs. Venezuela – 4 p.m. Local (6 p.m. CST)
June 25 – USA vs. Argentina – 11 a.m. Local (1 p.m. CST)
USA vs. Mexico – 6:30 p.m. Local (8:30 p.m. CST)
June 26 – USA vs. Australia – Noon Local (2 p.m. CST)
June 27 – USA vs. Czech Republic – Noon Local (2 p.m. CST)
USA vs. Canada – 7:30 p.m. Local (9:30 p.m. CST)
June 28 – Playoffs
June 29 – Medal Round gamesTeam USA will be led by head coach Tim Lyon (South Jordan, Utah), and assistant coaches Gary Mullican (Yorba Linda, Calif.) and Scott Standerfer (Charleston, Ill.). Team USA finished fifth in the 2005 World Championships, tying their best finish in World Championship history. In 1993, they posted a 4-8 record and placed fifth as well.
Junior Men Travel to Canada for World Championships
6/16/2008
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – The USA Softball Junior Men will look for its first World Championship gold medals as they head today to Whitehorse Canada for the 8th ISF Junior Men’s World Championships. The Junior Men came in fifth in 2005 but with a new arsenal of talent are prepared to bring home a medal.
The team has come as close as a silver medal at the 1981 and 1985 games but have not medaled since. This time will be a brand new group with only the Coaching Staff, with experience at the World Championship level. Head coach Tim Lyon and assistants Gary Mullican and Scott Standerfer also led the team in 2005.
The team arrives in Canada today and will have three days to prepare on site before competition begins on Fri., June 20.
Jr. Men Fall 4-2 in opening game of World Championships
6/21/2008
WHITE HORSE, Yukon – Team USA lost its opening round game by a score of 4-2 to Japan at the 8th ISF Junior Men’s World Fast Pitch Championships in White horse, Yukon
Japan scored a run in the top of the first inning without a hit. USA starter BJ Hunhoff was called for four illegal pitches before being replaced by Jim Hartman. The US countered in the bottom of the first on Nick Cole’s blast over the center field fence.
Japan took the lead with a run in the third inning and added a run in the fifth on three hits with two outs. The USA closed the gap to 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth as Cole was hit by a pitch and eventually scored on an outfield error.
Japan extended the lead to 4-2 with a six-inning run on a base hit and error on a collision in the USA outfield and another base hit. The USA threatened with two outs in the seventh as Cole was hit by a pitch again and advanced to third by Gentry Mitchell but a popup ended the game.
Hartman allowed eight hits while striking out seven and walking zero. Kojiro Hamada went the distance for Japan allowing three hits while striking out ten, walking three and hitting three USA batters.
Head coach Tim Lyon commented after the game. “It was a tough opening round game. We played well but not well enough to win. We’re looking forward to bouncing back against Denmark on Saturday.”
USA Softball Jr. Men even score at 1-1 with 7-0 win over Denmark
6/22/2008
WHITEHORSE, Yukon – The USA Junior men evened the record at 1-1 as they won 7-0, in five innings over Denmark at the 8th ISF Junior Men’s World Championships in White Horse, Yukon, Canada.
B.J. Hunhoff tossed a one-hitter, striking out seven while walking two. Valdemar Terkelson took the loss for Denmark, giving up eight hits, striking out four while walking five. Team USA struck in the bottom of the third. Jeremy Cline walked, scoring on a Nick Coles double after advancing a base on an illegal pitch. Coles scored off a stolen base and throwing error. The team put up its third run of the game with a Mitchell Elliott sacrifice fly to score Tony Viger who walked and got a stolen base.
The USA scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth. Nick Santos hit a double while Cline launched a homerun to centerfield, his third hit of the game. Cole reached on an error and would score on a wild pitch while J.T. Weststeyn walked, scoring on a passed ball.
“It was great to get back on track with a win against Denmark,” said Head Coach Tim Lyon. “We have several tough opponents over the next couple days so its great to get a win under our belt.”
The team will continue World Championship play against today against South Africa at 5:00 p.m. /local time. Continue to check out http://www.worldsoftball2008.com/ for the most up-to-date information on the World Championships.
USA Jr. Men Fall 10-2 to South Africa in Six Innings
6/23/2008
WHITE HORSE, Yukon – The USA Softball Junior Men’s team fell 10-2 to South Africa yesterday at the 8th ISF Junior Men’s World Championships. The team, currently in seventh place, will face undefeated New Zealand today at 4:00 p.m./local, 6:00 p.m./CT.
South Africa took an early 2-0 lead in the second inning before expanding their lead to 5-0 after scoring three in the third inning. Both teams were held scoreless until the top of the sixth inning when the U.S. scored two. However, South Africa did not give up the lead and went on a five-run-sixth inning, good enough to end the game with the run-ahead rule and a 10-2 win over the U.S.
The red, white and blue connected on three hits while allowing 12 hits.
For complete World Championship coverage, check out http://www.worldsoftball2008.com/. The most up-to-date information will be posted on http://www.usasoftball.com/.
USA Softball Junior Men go 2-0 at World Championships
6/25/2008
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – The USA Softball Junior Men’s team went 2-0 yesterday at the ISF Junior Men’s World Championships in White Horse, Yukon as they defeated Botswana 15-0 in four innings and 12-4 over Venezuela in six innings . The team combined for 25 hits on the day and extended their 2008 World Championship record to 3-2.
After being rained out yesterday, the team came out strong against Botswana. After scoring two runs in the bottom of the first, the team exploded in the second with 11 runs scored. The red, white and blue offense was stifled in the third but added two more runs in the fourth to put the game away at 15-0 in the fourth. The team had 13 hits while only allowing two and the defense was on as there were no errors in the game.
Nick Cole and Mitch Elliott each homered to lead the 13 hit attack while Jeremy Cline and Chris Norris had two hits a piece. Tony Viger scored three runs while Cline and Norris each scored twice. Jim Hartman got the win pitching three innings while giving up two hits, striking out five and hitting one batter. Bryant Hale threw the final inning striking out two.
“We came out and took care of business today,” said head coach Tim Lyon. “Jim (Hartman) and Bryan (Hale) threw really well and we had the bats going as well.”The U.S. wasted no time in the second game of the day taking an early first-inning 5-0 lead over Venezuela thanks to Gentry Mitchell’s grand slam homerun. The team tacked on three more in the second before Venezuela countered with four runs in the top of the fourth to cut the United State’s lead to 8-4. After scoring a run in the bottom of the fourth, Team USA put up three runs to end the game in six innings resulting in a 12-4 victory.
The USA pounded out 12 hits including three each by Jeremy Cline and Mitch Warren, who also drove in three runs. Nick Cole had two hits and scored three runs while Tony Viger had two hits. Hartman was good again in the circle, yielding four earned runs while giving up five hits, striking out seven and walking one.
Oriam Medina took the loss for Argentina yielding 12 runs on 12 hits striking out six and walking five.
“This was another good game for us as we jumped on them early scoring eight runs in the first two innings” stated head coach Tim Lyon as his team improved to 3-2. “When we have that kind of offensive production, we can be tough to beat. “The United States will encounter its toughest day of competition today with three games including powerhouse New Zealand. They face New Zealand at 7:00 a.m./local before taking on Argentina at 11:00 a.m./local. They will wrap up their triple-header with Mexico at 6:30 p.m./local.
Jr. Men delayed due to weather; Tough road ahead with five games in two days
6/24/2008
WHITE HORSE, Yukon — The USA Junior Men match-up against New Zealand last night was rescheduled to Wednesday, June 25 at 7 a.m. Local/ 9 a.m. CST after rain and weather entered the area before the game started. The U.S. (1-2) will have a tough road playing five games in the next two days looking to advance to the playoffs.
Through three games played USA’s Nicholas Cole (Sacramento, Calif.) is No. 4 on the Batting Leaders chart hitting .667 going 4-for-6 with five runs scored, a double and a home run.
Below are the current standing for the Championships:
1 Australia 5-0
2 Canada 5-0
3 New Zealand 3-1
4 Venezuela 4-2
5 Mexico 3-1
6 Japan 3-1
7 Argentina 2-3
8 United States 1-2
9 South Africa 1-4
10 Botswana 0-4
11 Denmark 1-5
12 Czech Republic 0-5Below is the USA schedule for Tuesday, June 24 and Wednesday, June 25.
Tuesday, June 24
USA vs. Botswana – 11 a.m. Local / 1 p.m. CST
USA vs. Venezuela – 4 p.m. Local/ 6 p.m. CST
Wednesday, June 25
USA vs. New Zealand – 7 a.m. Local/ 9 a.m. CST
USA vs. Argentina – 11 a.m. Local/ 1 p.m. CST
USA vs. Mexico – 6:30 p.m. Local/ 8:30 p.m. CST
Junior Men go 1-2 on Wednesday; Suffer two one-run losses in final inning
6/26/2008
WHITEHORSE, Yukon — The USA Softball Junior Men’s team recorded one win and two losses on Wednesday as they continued in pool play at the 2008 ISF Junior Men World Championships. A one-run difference in all three games, the U.S. suffered back-to-back losses in the morning to New Zealand 4-3 and Argentina 5-4, before bouncing back in their final game of the night defeating Mexico 7-6 in eight innings.
Argentina 3-4 (8)
Argentina pushed across two runs in the bottom of the seventh to score but it was not enough as the USA Softball Junior Men’s team dropped a 5-4 decision. It was the second last inning defeat of the day for the U.S. dropping their record to 3-4.
The U.S. managed just six hits including a solo homerun by Nick Cole. The team plated three runs in fifth inning by Cole and Jeremy cline. B.J. Hunhoff allowed four hits, struck out four but hit six batters in five innings. Jim Hartman gave up one hit.
“This was another disappointing ending for us,” said Head Coach Tim Lyon. “We are having a tough time putting teams away when we have a lead.”
Mexico 7-6 (8)
Tyson Lambourne singled with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning, carrying the USA Jr. Men to a 7-6 win over Mexico. It was the third game of the day which was decided in the last inning and brought the team to four wins and four losses.
Gentry Mitchell hit a three-run homerun in the third inning as the U.S. scored five runs on six hits. Mitch Warne had two of the nine hits while Tony Viger drove in two runs.
Jim Hartman started on the mound on the USA but lasted on 1 2/3 inning giving up five hits and three runs. BJ Hunhoff got the win in relief, yielding three runs on six hits while striking out six and walking one.
“It was good to pull out a last inning win after dropping two in the last inning earlier in the day,” said Head Coach Tim Lyon.
Moving to a 4-4 record, Team USA continues action on Thursday as they match-up against top tournament team in Australia at noon local/2 p.m. CST. On Friday, June 27, they will play the Czech Republic at noon local/ 2 p.m. CST and Canada at 7:30 p.m. local/9:30 p.m. CST.
Beginning TODAY, June 26 fans can listen to the radio feed of the USA games through this link. Please visit http://www.ballparkradio.com/.Current Standings (as of June 26):
1 Australia 8-0
2 Canada 8-1
3 New Zealand 6-2
4 Japan 6-2
5 Mexico 6-3
6 United States 4-4
7 Venezuela 4-5
8 Argentina 4-5
9 Czech Republic 2-6
10 South Africa 2-7
11 Denmark 1-8
12 Botswana 0-8GAME 1 – New Zealand 4 USA 3 (8 innings)
In a game that was rescheduled due to weather, the U.S. took the field at 7 a.m. on Wednesday morning to make up for the match-up against New Zealand.
Starting strong, the U.S. put up two runs in the top of the first while New Zealand connected for just one run in the bottom of the first. In the second, New Zealand put up the tying run as the game stalled at 2-2 through the fifth inning. The U.S. took a one-run lead in the top of the sixth, but New Zealand answered tying the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the inning.
Moving to an eighth inning, it was a clutch situation but New Zealand came out on top scoring one run in the bottom of the eighth inning to secure the victory.
The U.S. recorded nine hits and zero errors to New Zealand’s (6-2) six hits and two errors.
GAME 2 – Argentina 5 USA 4
Just four hours later, the U.S. took the field for its second contest and fell short again with a 5-4 loss to Argentina (4-5).
Argentina had a 1-0 lead through three innings before the U.S. tied the game in the top of the fourth. The Red, White and Blue continued to look strong scoring three security runs in the top of the fifth for the 4-1 advantage while Argentina notched another run in the bottom of the inning for the 4-2 difference.
The tide changed however as the U.S. was held scoreless through the sixth and seventh while Argentina scored one in the sixth and two in the seventh to seal the win.
It marked the second time in as many games the U.S. loss in the bottom of the last inning.
The U.S. scored four runs on six hits and one Argentina error.
GAME 3 – USA 7 Mexico 6 (8 innings)
In its third contest of the day, the U.S. gutted out a 7-6 victory in eight innings against Mexico (6-3).
Mexico jumped ahead 3-0 after two innings, but the U.S. used a five-run third inning to take the lead. Another run in the fourth, the U.S. looked strong at a 6-3 lead through the fifth inning.
Mexico responded tying the game in the top of the sixth inning at 6-all, but the U.S. prevailed taking home its first win of the day with one run scored in the bottom of the eighth.
The U.S. totaled nine hits in the victory.
USA Jr. Men get shutout by Australia in 9-0 loss
6/26/2008
WHITEHORSE, Yukon — The Aussies were too much for the USA Softball Junior Men’s National team on Thursday afternoon as the tournament leading team defeated the U.S. in a 9-0 shutout. Starting U.S. pitcher B.J. Hunhoff (Harrisburg, S.D) and the U.S. defense was able to hold the highest run producing tournament team through three innings, but Australia took a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning and never looked back. The Aussies would go on to score six runs in the top of the sixth for the eventual 9-0 win.
The U.S. mustered just two hits in the contest with a single from Tony Viger (Sioux Falls, S.D.) and a double from Nick Santos (Pueblo, Colo.).
Hunhoff completed five innings pitched allowing seven earned runs on nine hits. Aussie pitcher Matt Stafford recorded the win for the No. 1 team.
The U.S. fell to 4-5 while Australia remains undefeated at 9-0.
On Friday, the U.S. will face its final day of competition against the Czech Republic at Noon Local/2 p.m. CST before battling tournament host Canada at 7:30 p.m. Local/9:30 p.m. CST as the final game in round robin play.
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USA Jr. Men finish 8th at World Championships with 5-6 overall record
6/28/2008
WHITEHORSE, Yukon — The USA Softball Junior Men’s National team completed their final day of competition on Friday at the 2008 World Championships with a 9-4 victory over the Czech Republic in the afternoon before a heartbreaking 1-0 eight-inning loss to host Canada in the evening session.
With 5-6 overall record, the U.S. finished eighth in the standings as the top four team move on to Saturday’s semifinal action. The U.S. scored 61 runs to their opponents 48 during the week.
USA 9 Czech Republic 5 (see attached box score)
The U.S. exploded for nine runs on 12 hits on Friday afternoon with a 9-5 triumph over the Czech Republic (1-10). James Hartman (Hartford, S.D.) earned the win in the circle tossing seven innings allowing three earned runs, eight hits and recording five strikeouts.
Both teams were quiet in the first inning before a six-run inning boosted the U.S. for a comfortable lead. The Czech Republic mustered two runs in the top of the third inning, but the U.S. came right back with two runs as well for the 8-2 lead. Another two-run inning came from the Czech Republic in the fifth as they closed the gap to 8-4, but the U.S. prevailed with each team scoring in the sixth for the eventual 9-5 final.
USA Head Coach Tim Lyon said after the game, “It was good to see our bats come alive and Jim pitched a solid game was well. Now we’ll see what we can do against Canada.”
Leading the offense for the Red, White and Blue was Tony Viger (Sioux Falls, S.D.) who was 3-for-4 with two singles, a home run and two RBI. Right behind him was outfielder Nicholas Cole (Sacramento, Calif.) who was 2-for-2 with a single, a home run and a team-leading four RBI. JT Weststeyn (Baldwin, Mo.) was also 2-for-3 with two singles.
Canada 1 USA 0 (eight innings) (see attached box score)
In their last game at the ISF World Championship, the USA Jr. Men lost 1-0, in an eight-inning game, to Canada. The USA finished with a 5-6 record in the 12 team tournament.
Dustin Keshane threw a no-hitter with 16 strikeouts for Canada. He walked Tony Viger in the second inning and hit Gentry Mitchell in the fourth. Warned placed on second in the eight, with international tie break, was the only other USA runner.
Hunhoff allowed only three hits for the USA striking out nine , walking none and hitting one batter. Canada’s run scored on a base hit by Joran Graham after Dennis Iron was placed on second base to start the eighth inning.
“This was a classic fast pitch game,” said Lyon. “I was really proud of how the boys played with no chance of advancing to the playoffs. Though we didn’t win as many games as we thought we would up here, we lost by one run in extra innings to two of the playoff teams and lost by two runs to another playoff team. Although we are getting better, we still have a ways to go to reach the medal stand.”
In the playoffs , Australia is the top seed, Japan the #2 seed, Canada at #3 and new Zealand is seeded fourth.
Final Standings through Round Robin Play
1 Australia 10-1
2 Japan 9-2
3 Canada 9-2
4 New Zealand 8-3
5 Argentina 6-5
6 Venezuela 6-5
7 Mexico 6-5
8 United States 5-6
9 South Africa 4-7
10 Denmark 2-9
11 Czech Republic 1-10
12 Botswana 0-11
Click links below for some history on the USA Jr. Men’s team:
[…] Website – USA Jr. MenHistory of the USA Jr. Men’s Program2005 USA Jr. Men’s team2008 USA Jr. Men’s TeamSoftball CanadaMenJr. MenSoftball New ZealandMenJr. MenSoftball AustraliaMenCoaching StaffJr. […]