USA Baseball is almost ready for the 18-and-Under World Cup in Taiwan.
USA Baseball’s 18-and-Under National Team Prepares for World Cup
As USA Baseball’s 18-and-under national team gears up for the World Baseball/Softball Confederation World Cup in Taiwan, there are two crucial tasks at hand.
Finalizing the Roster
Former major-leaguer Michael Cuddyer, the team’s manager, along with USA Baseball’s staff, must narrow down the 44-player training-camp roster to the final 20. This selection process will determine the talented group that will represent the country on the international stage.
Exhibition Game
Prior to their departure on August 27, the team will face off against the OC Lightning, an offseason club team comprised of players from Orange Lutheran High School. This exhibition game, scheduled for August 26 at Concordia College in Irvine, California, will provide a valuable opportunity for Team USA to fine-tune their skills and showcase their talent.
“It’s a pretty cool feather in the cap that they called and asked to play us,” says Lightning Coach Eric Borba. “You have the best players in the country, so it’s great for our kids to play against that kind of competition and see how they stack up. They also get to see a lot of the players they’ve read about and will see their names called in the major-league draft next summer.”
Team USA, aiming to replicate the success of last year’s 18-and-under squad, has been training in San Juan Capistrano. With the World Cup set to begin on August 31 in Taipei and Taichung, the team’s stop on the West Coast allows for easier travel to Taiwan.
The training-camp roster includes eight Southern California players, including Matthew Champion of JSerra, Nicholas Montgomery of Cypress, and Derek Curiel of Orange Lutheran. These talented athletes, along with their teammates, are eager to represent their country and make their mark on the international stage.
As the team prepares for their journey, the exhibition game against the OC Lightning serves as a crucial tune-up. The objective is to ensure that Team USA is in top form before their departure from Los Angeles International Airport.
“Whatever Coach Cuddyer wants, we’ll try to deliver,” says Coach Borba. The team is focused and determined to bring home another World Cup championship.
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