From Steven Embree | ASA/USA Softball
Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications
PARANA, Argentina – The USA Softball Junior Men’s National Team arrived in Parana, Argentina this week to begin their quest for the 2012 International Softball Federation (ISF) IX World Fastpitch Championship Gold the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America and USA Softball announced today. The United States is slated to begin pool play Friday, November 2 against Denmark at 3 pm (CT).
“It was a very long trip, we’re glad to finally be here in Parana and playing softball,” said USA outfielder Dakota Wells. “I think I got about two hours of sleep between the ten hour flight and seven hour bus ride.”
Following their opening game with Denmark, the USA is scheduled to play five other pool-play games: Singapore on November 3, India on November 4, Venezuela on November 5, New Zealand on November 6, and Australia on November 7. The playoffs are scheduled to begin on November 8 with finals on November 10.
Click here for coverage throughout the ISF IX World Fastpitch Championship
In 2008, the most previous ISF Junior Men’s World Championships, the USA finished with a 5-6 record and eighth in the overall standings.
Athletes competing for USA Softball in Parana: Jerlin Rutt (Bernville, Pa), Zach Lach (Frankenuth, Mich.), Austin Tuttle (Payson, Utah), Dakota, Wells (San Luis Obispo, Calif.), Jonathan Lynch (Cape Girardeau, Mo.), Jake Dalton (Lake Crystal, Minn.), Junior Centeno (Salem, Utah), Tyler Johnson (Union, Mo.), Justin Wurtz (New Haven, Mo.), Dylan Elmer (Machesney Park, Ill.), Michael Lewis (Amboy Minn.), Nick Serrato (Corona, Calif.), Jack Rutt (Ephrata, Pa.), Spencer Yackel (Lake Crystal, Minn.), Mauro Olivarria (San Diego, Calif.), Brent Meshke (Lake Crystal, Minn.), Addison Beutler (West Valley, Utah).
Tim Lyon (South Jordan, Utah) leads the way in his eleventh year as the head coach and is joined by assistant coaches Gary Mullican (Yorba Linda, Calif.), Scott Standerfer (Charleston, Ill) and Kyle Magnusson (South Jordan, Utah).
“We’re happy with the preparations we’ve put in leading up to these ISF World Championships,” said Head Coach Tim Lyon. “We feel that we have a very strong team this year and are looking forward to the beginning of tournament play later this week.”