Cap tip Blair Setford.
By Adam Bouton
Clad in red, white and blue, the players on the USA Softball Men’s Fastpitch Junior National Team huddled around their coaches at Currie Stadium after practice on Monday morning.
Following a quick pep talk, the 30 players followed their coaches’ question of, “Who do we play for?” with a resounding, “USA!”
“We try to build that pride and have ‘USA’ on their chest,” said Junior National Team head coach Tim Lyon. “We tell the kids all the time, when they are married and have kids and have their own little family room, their local club team won’t be on the wall, but their (USA) uniform will be on their wall.”
The 19-and-under Men’s Fast Pitch Junior National Team is making Midland its home for 10 days, practicing each morning at Currie Stadium and staying in dorms at Northwood University. Monday’s practice was the first for the week.
The squad is ultimately preparing for the 2012 International Softball Federation Junior Men’s World Championship (Under-19), which is held Nov. 1-10 in Parana, Argentina.