USA Softball - Men's Team

Team USA recently competed in the ISF World Championships January 29-February 8, 2004 in Christchurch, New Zealand.

USA Softball announces roster for 2004 Men's National Team

Oklahoma City, OK---USA Softball has announced the selection of 17-players to the 2004 USA Softball Men's National Team that will attempt to wins its sixth World Championship gold medal next year in Christchurch, New Zealand. The 2004 ISF World Championship will be held January 29-February 8.

The men's national team was selected after participating in the Men's National Team Selection Camp, February 12-13, at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif.

ISF World Championships in New Zealand, Jan 29-Feb 8, 2004

Players selected for the 2004 USA Men's National Team are:
 

USA Men sweep exhibition games at U.S. Olympic Training Center
(ASA Press Release, 11/24/03)

Chula Vista, CA---In its final exhibition series of the year, the USA Softball Men’s National Team swept a pair of games from the Lakewood Jets of Lakewood, Calif., at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista. Calif.

The USA Men, in town for a weekend training camp in preparation for the 2004 ISF World Championship in Christchurch, New Zealand, cruised past the Jets, 13-2, in game one of exhibition action. The U.S. crushed three home runs in the winning effort.

U.S. pitcher Travis Price (Santa Ana, CA) picked up the win after allowing just two runs on four hits and fanning eight in four innings of work. Michael White (Eugene, OR) closed out the game by striking out the side in one inning of relief.

Chad Boom (Barnesville, MN) put the U.S. up 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning with a single to left that scored Steve Schott (Kelso, MO) who reached on a two out single.

The Jets scored their runs in the second off a solo home run by Jimmy Buentello and the third by Keith Barker singled to right and scored on a three base error by U.S. right fielder Chris Miljavac (St. Joseph, MO).

In the second the U.S. pounded out six runs off four hits. The highlight of the inning came when Schott launched a first pitch offering over the center field fence with bases loaded to extend the lead to 6-0. A single by Boom and an RBI double by Ross Dey (Sedalia, MO) produced the final run of the inning.

The Red, White and Blue put together another six run effort in the third inning. Tom Owen (Ankeny, IA) led off the inning with a double to left field and scored on an RBI single to left by Todd Garcia (Woodbridge, CA). Miljavac kept the rally going with a single to center that scored Garcia. A Todd Schultz (Williamston, MI) home run to right center plated Miljavac for a 11-0 lead. A two run blast by Boom gave the U.S. its final margin of victory.

A strong pitching performance by Jets hurler and former Mexico National Team member Ponfilo Valdez stymied the U.S. bats for most of the game. The U.S. needed a late rally for the 4-3 win.

The Jets jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first after a leadoff double by Barker and an RBI single Robert Renteria.

A couple of costly errors in the third allowed Lakewood to extend its lead to 3-0. Barker led off with a single and advanced to second after a sacrifice bunt by Jimmy Buentello was booted by Schott at first. A failed pick off attempt at second allowed each run to advance 60 feet and into scoring position. A passed ball allowed Barker to score and an RBI single by Robert Renteria plated Buentello for the 3-0 lead.

The U.S. began to claw its way back into the game in the fourth with a two out rally. Dey began the rally with a single through the right side and scored on a double by Don Garvey (Greenville, WI) to cut the lead to 3-1.

In the fifth, Miljavac tripled down the left field line and scored when the throw from leftfield was mishandled.

The U.S. finally took the lead in the sixth rallying for three runs on three hits. Garcia started the rally with a single that ricocheted off the pitcher’s leg and into center field. Dey, who was clutch all day, drove a double to centerfield to notch the game at 3-3. A home run by Garvey gave U.S. a two run cushion.

A five run seventh inning put the game out of reach and gave the U.S. a 10-3 win. Dey and Schott each contributed RBIs in the inning and Garvey hit his second two run home run in the game and increased his RBI total to five.

Doug Gillis (Novi, MI) picked up the win after pitching four shutout innings in relief. During his stint he allowed just three hits and struck out seven. Michael White (Euguene, OR) started the game and pitched three innings allowing three runs on four hits.

Boom led the series in hitting going 4-for-5 with three RBI, while Schott contributed six RBI and Garvey belted two home runs and drove in five RBI.