by USA Baseball
DURHAM, N.C. — USA Baseball announced on Thursday the names of the 18 players selected to represent the United States for the first time at the 12U level. The final roster includes athletes from eight different states.
The roster was selected following 11 identification events held from March through early June in 10 different states. In all, USA Baseball saw athletes from more than 20 states as part of the identification process. In addition to the 18 players named to the final roster, USA Baseball also named 10 alternates for the 12U National Team — representative of eight different states.
“This is a great first step for the 12U National Team program,” said USA Baseball CEO/executive director Paul Seiler. “We are confident in the team we will be putting on the field in Chinese Taipei, but this year was also a learning process with it being our first year fielding a 12U National Team.
“We believe that this year will be the foundation for building a successful 12U National Team program that will compete for gold medals at international competitions for years to come.”
The 12U National Team will assemble for the first time in Los Angeles on July 12. The team will spend three days training under the direction of manager Dave Webb and assistants Terrance Freeman, Jason Sekany and Tanner Vesley. Training will include an exhibition game against a team selected by the Major League Baseball’s Urban Youth Academy in Compton, Calif., that will compete this summer in the National Youth Baseball Championships.
“I am honored and humbled to represent USA Baseball’s 12U National Team as its manager this year,” Webb said. “We plan on getting the most out of these talented and dedicated young players, representing our nation with pride and bringing home the first 12U gold medal for USA Baseball.”
Webb has plenty of international experience having led the 2008 and 2009 14U National Teams to gold medals in Guatemala and Ecuador. Webb will also have the benefit of having Bill Krejci on the staff as business manager. Krejci has been the athletic director at Southwestern Community College in Creston, Iowa, since 2000, after 22 years as the school’s baseball coach. In addition to his duties at Southwestern, Krejci has been involved with USA Baseball for the last 18 years.
Following training, the team will depart for Taipei City, Chinese Taipei, to compete in the II IBAF 12U Baseball World Cup, July 18-28. The 12U program will open international competition for the first time against Panama on July 18.
In addition to the coaching staff and Krecji, the team will be led by national team coordinator Drew Chism and certified athletic trainer Nic Medina.
The 18-man USA Baseball 12U National Team roster is as follows:
Name, Position, Hometown
Matt Allan, RHP, Sanford, Fla.
Gabe Briones, C, Perris, Calif.
Justin Campbell, RHP/IF, Simi Valley, Calif.
Adam Crampton, IF/RHP, Oakland, Calif.
Evan Godwin, LHP, Cypress, Texas
Anthony Hall, LHP, San Diego, Calif.
Jakob Hines, C/IF, Tampa, Fla.
Kevin Martin, IF/RHP, Miami, Fla.
Garrett McMillan, IF/RHP, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Yohandy Morales, IF/OF, Miami, Fla.
Joseph Naranjo, IF/LHP, Chino, Calif.
Colton Olasin, IF/OF, Spring Hill, Fla.
Andrew Pintar, IF/RHP, Spanish Fork, Utah
Elijah Ricks, OF/RHP, San Bruno, Calif.
Sam Ruta, IF/OF, Yardley, Pa.
Carson Tucker, IF/RHP, Phoenix, Ariz.
Anthony Volpe, IF, Watchung, N.J.
Kayler Yates, IF/RHP, St. George, Utah
