{"id":41112,"date":"2022-11-21T17:19:15","date_gmt":"2022-11-22T01:19:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/?p=41112"},"modified":"2022-11-21T17:20:49","modified_gmt":"2022-11-22T01:20:49","slug":"usa-softball-mens-national-team-begins-preparations-in-auckland-new-zealand-prior-to-wbsc-mens-softball-world-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/?p=41112","title":{"rendered":"USA Softball Men\u2019s National Team begins preparations in Auckland, New Zealand prior to WBSC Men\u2019s Softball World Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"316\" height=\"316\" src=\"http:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/USA_Softball_logo.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-38409\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/USA_Softball_logo.jpg 316w, https:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/USA_Softball_logo-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/USA_Softball_logo-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/USA_Softball_logo-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 316px) 100vw, 316px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Nov. 21, 2022,&nbsp;2:41 p.m. (ET)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>AUCKLAND, New Zealand \u2013 Members of the USA Softball Men\u2019s National Team (MNT) have arrived in Auckland, New Zealand ahead of the 2022 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Men\u2019s Softball World Cup. The Red, White and Blue will kick off the trip with a series of practices and scrimmages before taking the field November 26 \u2013 December 4 as the Eagles look to claim their 10th WBSC Men\u2019s Softball World Championship medal.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.teamusa.org\/USA-Softball\/Events\/2022\/November\/26\/WBSC-Mens-Softball-World-Cup\">Click here for the schedule, roster, stats, live streaming &amp; more \u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The U.S. MNT will take part in multiple scrimmage games against Argentina (Nov. 22), Japan (Nov. 23) and Canada (Nov. 24) prior to the nine-day competition where they will face top Men\u2019s Fast pitch talent from around the globe. The 12 participating countries will open the tournament in two groups before moving onto the Super and Placement Rounds with the top two teams advancing to the World Championship Final. Team USA will compete in Group A alongside Argentina, the Czech Republic, New Zealand, Cuba and the Philippines while Japan, Canada, the Aussie Steelers, Venezuela, Denmark and South Africa will face-off in Group B.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beginning Opening Round on Saturday, Nov. 26 at Whakaata M?ori Stadium, the U.S. will take on the Philippines at 8 p.m. NZST (1 a.m. CT) before matching up against New Zealand on Nov. 27 at 3 p.m. NZST (Nov. 26 at 8 p.m. CT). Continuing the competition, Team USA will face the Czech Republic (Nov. 28 at 1:30 p.m. NZST\/Nov. 27 at 6:30 p.m. CT), Cuba (Nov. 29 at 12 p.m. NZST\/Nov. 28 at 5 p.m. CT) and Argentina (Nov. 30 at 1:30 p.m. NZST and 6:30 p.m. CT) to close out Opening Round. The tournament will then advance to the Super and Placement Rounds where the top three teams in each Group will battle it out to determine the final two teams who will go head-to-head in the World Championship Final on Friday, Dec, at 4 p.m. NZST (Dec. 3 at 9 pm. CT). The third and fourth-place teams will compete for the bronze medal earlier that day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fans will have the opportunity to follow along all week long through&nbsp;WBSC&#8217;s exclusive online&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/gametime.sport\/events\/offers\/\">GameTime&nbsp;video platform<\/a>&nbsp;where live stream tournament passes can be purchased for $9.99. Live stats will also be provided on&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.teamusa.org\/USA-Softball\/Events\/2022\/November\/26\/WBSC-Mens-Softball-World-Cup\">USASoftball.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.teamusa.org\/USA-Softball\/News\/2022\/September\/29\/2022-Mens-National-Team-Roster-Announced\">Previously announced by USA Softball<\/a>, the 16-player roster representing the Red, White and Blue includes 10 veteran members from the most recent Men\u2019s National Team roster, which earned the the U.S. a spot in the WBSC Men\u2019s Softball World Cup after&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.teamusa.org\/USA-Softball\/News\/2022\/April\/30\/MNT-finished-fourth-at-WBSC-Americas-Qualifier\">finishing fourth at the Americas Qualifier held in Parana, Argentina<\/a>&nbsp;in April of this year. Among the veterans are Blaine Milheim, Brad Kilpatrick, Cam Schiller, Erick Ochoa, Jonathan Lynch, Nick Mullins, Tyler Bouley, Tyler Johnson, Yusef Davis and Zac Shaw. Re-joining the squad after a one-year hiatus are two additional veterans, Jon Gwizdala and Matt Palazzo, who each helped lead the U.S. to a fifth-place finish at the 2019 WBSC Men\u2019s Softball World Championship and a silver medal finish at the 2019 Pan American Games \u2013 the program\u2019s first silver medal finish in 16 years. Also highlighting the 2022 roster are four rookies who will represent Team USA for the first time in their career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remaining at the helm of the U.S. MNT for his third-straight season,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.teamusa.org\/USA-Softball\/News\/2021\/February\/10\/USA-Softball-announces-Head-Coaches-for-Mens-National-Team-program\">Head Coach Ron Hackett<\/a>&nbsp;will lead Team USA in its quest to the podium at the 2022 WBSC Men\u2019s Softball World Championship. Hackett joined the MNT as an Assistant Coach in 2019 where he helped lead the U.S. to a second-place finish at the Pan American Games and a fifth-place finish at the WBSC World Cup during the 2019 season before guiding the squad to a fourth-place finish at the 2022 WBSC Americas Qualifiers earlier this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rounding out the 2022 MNT coaching staff include assistant coaches Gerald Muizelaar, Greg Hicks and Roman Foore. Muizelaar returns to the coaching staff following the 2021 Americas Qualifier while Hicks prepares for his fifth overall appearance as an assistant coach. Entering his first stint as assistant coach, Foore packs years of experience and a wealth of knowledge as a former MNT player.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The USA Softball Men\u2019s Fast Pitch National Team garners nine WBSC Men&#8217;s Softball World Championship medals, including five gold medals&nbsp;(1966, 1968, 1976, 1980 and 1988), one silver medal (1972) and three bronze medals (1984, 1992 and 2000). In the Pan American Games, Team USA has advanced to eight gold medal games while claiming the silver medal each time.&nbsp;To learn more about the USA Softball Men\u2019s National Team Program, visit&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.teamusa.org\/USA-Softball\/Team-USA\/History\/Mens-Fast-Pitch\">USASoftball.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>USA Roster<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Representing the Red, White and Blue will be a roster that includes 10 veteran members from the most recent Men\u2019s National Team roster, which earned the the U.S. a spot in the WBSC Men\u2019s Softball World Championship after&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.teamusa.org\/USA-Softball\/News\/2022\/April\/30\/MNT-finished-fourth-at-WBSC-Americas-Qualifier\">finishing fourth at the Americas Qualifier held in Parana, Argentina<\/a>&nbsp;in April of this year. Among the veterans are Blaine Milheim, Brad Kilpatrick, Cam Schiller, Erick Ochoa, Jonathan Lynch, Nick Mullins, Tyler Bouley, Tyler Johnson, Yusef Davis and Zac Shaw. Re-joining the squad after a one-year hiatus are two additional veterans, Jon Gwizdala and Matt Palazzo, who each helped lead the U.S. to a fifth-place finish at the 2019 WBSC Men\u2019s Softball World Championship and a silver medal finish at the 2019 Pan American Games \u2013 the program\u2019s first silver medal finish in 16 years. Also highlighting the 2022 roster are four rookies who will put on the Red, White and Blue for the first time in their career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.teamusa.org\/USA-Softball\/Team-USA\/Mens-Fast-Pitch\">Click here to view the 2022 WBSC Men&#8217;s Softball World Championship roster&nbsp;\u00bb<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/usa.ron_.hackett-615x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-41088\" width=\"91\" height=\"150\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ron Hackett<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Remaining at the helm of the U.S. MNT for his third-straight season,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.teamusa.org\/USA-Softball\/News\/2021\/February\/10\/USA-Softball-announces-Head-Coaches-for-Mens-National-Team-program\"><strong>Head Coach Ron Hackett<\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;will lead Team USA in its quest to the podium at the 2022 WBSC Men\u2019s Softball World Championship. Hackett joined the MNT as an Assistant Coach in 2019 where he helped lead the U.S. to a second-place finish at the Pan American Games and a fifth-place finish at the WBSC World Cup during the 2019 season before guiding the squad to a fourth-place finish at the 2022 WBSC Americas Qualifiers earlier this year.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/usa.gerald.Muizelaar-1-615x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-41091\" width=\"99\" height=\"164\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/usa.gerald.Muizelaar-1-615x1024.jpg 615w, https:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/usa.gerald.Muizelaar-1-180x300.jpg 180w, https:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/usa.gerald.Muizelaar-1-768x1280.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/usa.gerald.Muizelaar-1-922x1536.jpg 922w, https:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/usa.gerald.Muizelaar-1.jpg 1229w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 99px) 100vw, 99px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gerald.Muizelaar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Rounding out the 2022 MNT coaching staff include assistant coaches Gerald Muizelaar, Greg Hicks and Roman Foore.<\/strong> Muizelaar returns to the coaching staff following the 2021 Americas Qualifier while Hicks prepares for his fifth overall appearance as an assistant coach. Entering his first stint as assistant coach, Foore packs years of experience and a wealth of knowledge as a former MNT player.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/usa.Greg_.Hicks_-615x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-41092\" width=\"107\" height=\"178\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/usa.Greg_.Hicks_-615x1024.jpg 615w, https:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/usa.Greg_.Hicks_-180x300.jpg 180w, https:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/usa.Greg_.Hicks_-768x1280.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/usa.Greg_.Hicks_-922x1536.jpg 922w, https:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/usa.Greg_.Hicks_.jpg 1229w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 107px) 100vw, 107px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Greg Hicks<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The USA Softball Men\u2019s Fast Pitch National Team garners nine WBSC Men&#8217;s Softball World Championship medals, including five gold medals&nbsp;(1966, 1968, 1976, 1980 and 1988), one silver medal (1972) and three bronze medals (1984, 1992 and 2000). In the Pan American Games, Team USA has advanced to eight gold medal games while claiming the silver medal each time.&nbsp;To learn more about the USA Softball Men\u2019s National Team Program, visit&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.teamusa.org\/USA-Softball\/Team-USA\/History\/Mens-Fast-Pitch\">USASoftball.com.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/usa.RomanFoore.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-41093\" width=\"102\" height=\"169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/usa.RomanFoore.jpg 219w, https:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/usa.RomanFoore-180x300.jpg 180w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 102px) 100vw, 102px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Roman Foore<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>From &lt;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.teamusa.org\/USA-Softball\/News\/2022\/September\/29\/2022-Mens-National-Team-Roster-Announced\">https:\/\/www.teamusa.org\/USA-Softball\/News\/2022\/September\/29\/2022-Mens-National-Team-Roster-Announced<\/a>&gt;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Nov. 21, 2022,&nbsp;2:41 p.m. (ET) AUCKLAND, New Zealand \u2013 Members of the USA Softball Men\u2019s National Team (MNT) have arrived in Auckland, New Zealand ahead of the 2022 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Men\u2019s Softball World Cup. The Red, White and Blue will kick off the trip with a series of practices and scrimmages before [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":39918,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[28,9,23,61,82],"tags":[401,734,1296,125,1233,1031,1377],"class_list":{"0":"post-41112","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-featured","8":"category-international","9":"category-tournaments","10":"category-usa-softball","11":"category-wbsc","12":"tag-softballnewzealand","13":"tag-usamnt","14":"tag-usamnt2022","15":"tag-usasoftball","16":"tag-usasoftball2022","17":"tag-wbsc2022","18":"tag-wbscsofball","19":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41112","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=41112"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41112\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41116,"href":"https:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41112\/revisions\/41116"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/39918"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=41112"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=41112"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=41112"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}