OKLAHOMA CITY – The Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America/USA Softball announced today the roster for the 2014 USA Softball Men’s Fast Pitch National Team that will compete this October in the Pan American Games and International Softball Federation (ISF) World Championship qualifier in Parana, Argentina. Ten initial athletes were named to the team in February and the seven remaining selections earned their spot competing at the ASA/USA Men’s Major National Championship in South Bend, Ind. over the weekend.
Click here to see the complete 2014 USA Softball Men’s National Team roster
Denny Bruckert (Gillespie, Ill.) will lead the National Team and be assisted by Greg Hicks (Bakersfield, Calif.), Gregg Leather (Staten Island, NY) and Nick McCurry (Ashland, Ohio) throughout the year.
“I think we have put together a really nice squad,” said Bruckert. “We named the initial ten guys earlier this year and had some great competition for the remaining seven spots. We decided to go with just three pitchers which is a bit different but we’re confident in each of their abilities to take the ball and throw a number of innings. We selected a lot of speed guys and we have some players who will come off the bench and do great things for us. I also like the mix of veterans and new guys that this team has.”
Ten players are returning from the 2013 squad that finished eighth at the ISF World Championship in Auckland, New Zealand. In October’s event the team will look to qualify for both the 2015 World Championships to be held in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada as well as the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada. Men’s Fast Pitch makes its return to the Pan American Games for the first time since 2003 when Team USA took the Silver.
In addition to the Pan American Games/ISF World Championship qualifier, the 2014 USA Softball Men’s Fast Pitch National Team will compete in a Labor Day tournament in Elkland, Pa. August 29 – September 1.
For more information on the USA Softball Men’s Fast Pitch National Team and to follow their events throughout the year, visit www.USASoftball.com.