Team USA Announces Junior Finalists

Staff Report
June 25, 2007

USA Baseball announced the 32 players who will be considered for inclusion on its 2007 18-and-under junior national team. The 32 players, along with 11 alternates, were selected from a pool of 144 players who participated in the 15th annual Tournament of Stars at USA Baseball's national training complex in Cary, N.C.

The 32-man trials roster features 26 rising seniors, three rising sophomores and three players who graduated from high school this year, but meet the birthday requirement for qualification for competition.

Victor Solis, the head coach at Gateway (Ariz.) Community College and a veteran of USA Baseball coaching staffs, will serve as the junior national team head coach.

The group will reassemble in Joplin, Mo., Aug. 13-19 for further evaluation, including a series of exhibition games against the junior national teams from Canada and Taiwan. The final 20-player junior national team roster will be selected Aug. 19 and the squad will depart for Ixtapa, Mexico, in the Confederation of Pan American Baseball Federations AAA Pan-Am Junior Championships Aug. 24-Sept. 2. The tournament serves as a qualifier for the 2008 World Championships.

2007 USA BASEBALL JUNIOR NATIONAL TEAM TRIALS INVITEES
Name, Pos.	B-T	Ht.	Wt.	High School	Class
Kyle Buchanan, c	R-R	6-1	200	Auburn (Wash.) HS	2008
Dimitri De La Fuente, if/rhp	R-R	6-1	185	South Hills HS, Covina, Calif.	2008
David Freitas, c	R-R	6-2	205	Elk Grove (Calif.) HS	2007
Isaac Galloway, of	R-R	6-2	190	Los Osos HS, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.	2008
Mychal Givens, ss	R-R	6-1	170	Plant HS, Tampa	2009
Rolando Gomez, ss	L-R	5-9	160	Flanagan HS, Pembroke Pines, Fla.	2008
Anthony Gose, of/lhp	L-L	6-0	170	Bellflower (Calif.) HS	2008
Robbie Grossman, of	B-L	6-1	200	Cy-Fair HS, Cypress, Texas	2008
Tyler Hibbs, rhp	R-R	5-11	165	Arundel HS, Gambrills, Md.	2008
L.J. Hoes, of	R-R	6-0	190	St. Johns College HS, Washington, D.C.	2008
Eric Hosmer, 1b	L-L	6-3	205	American Heritage HS, Plantation, Fla.	2008
T.J. House, lhp	R-L	6-2	190	Picayune (Miss.) HS	2008
Greg Larson, rhp	R-R	6-8	200	Lake Brantley HS, Altamonte Springs, Fla.	2008
Garrison Lassiter, ss	L-R	6-2	190	West Forsyth HS, Clemmons, N.C.	2008
Kyle Lobstein, lhp	L-L	6-3	185	Coconino, Flagstaff, Ariz.	2008
Jeff Malm, 1b	L-L	6-3	215	Bishop Gorman HS, Las Vegas	2009
Nick Maronde, lhp	B-L	6-3	190	Lexington (Ky.) Catholic HS	2008
Harold Martinez, 3b	R-R	6-1	165	Braddock HS, Miami	2008
Tim Melville, rhp	R-R	6-5	210	Holt HS, Wentzville, Mo.	2008
Kaleb Merck, rhp/3b	R-R	6-0	185	Keller (Texas) HS	2008
Jimmy Messer, rhp	R-R	6-1	195	South Caldwell HS, Hudson, N.C.	2008
Matthew Purke, lhp	L-L	6-2	165	Klein HS, Spring, Texas	2009
J.P. Ramirez, of	L-L	5-10	180	Canyon (Texas) HS	2008
Trevor Reckling, lhp	L-L	6-2	200	Saint Benedict's Prep, Newark, N.J.	2007
Robbie Ross, lhp	L-L	5-11	180	Lexington (Ky.) Christian HS	2008
Michael Russo, rhp	R-R	6-6	210	The Hun School, Princeton, N.J.	2008
Kyle Skipworth, c	L-R	6-3	190	Patriot HS, Riverside, Calif.	2008
Tyler Stovall, lhp/of	L-L	6-2	190	Hokes Bluff (Ala.) HS	2008
Jordan Swagerty, rhp/c	B-R	6-1	170	Prestonwood Christian Academy, Plano, Texas	2008
Riccio Torrez, 2b	R-R	6-0	190	Brophy Prep, Phoenix	2008
Ryan Weber, rhp	R-R	6-0	170	Clearwater (Fla.) Central Catholic HS	2008
Tyler Wilson, rhp	R-R	6-1	190	Midlothian (Va.) HS	2007
ALTERNATES
Name, Pos.	B-T	Ht.	Wt.	High School	Class
Chris Amezquita, 3b/rhp	R-R	6-1	180	Servite HS, Anaheim	2008
Nolan Belcher, lhp	B-L	5-8	155	Greenbrier HS, Evans, Ga.	2008
Tyler Chatwood, of/rhp	R-R	6-0	175	East Valley HS, Redlands, Calif.	2008
Greg Conver, rhp	R-R	6-5	200	American Heritage HS, Plantation, Fla.	2008
Jaff Decker, lhp/of	L-L	5-10	170	Sunrise Mountain HS, Peoria, Ariz.	2008
Ray Hanson, rhp	R-R	6-6	185	Wilson HS, Long Beach	2008
Aaron Hicks, of/rhp	B-R	6-1	165	Wilson HS, Long Beach	2008
Dan Killian, c	R-L	6-3	190	Vicksburg (Mich.) HS	2007
Curtis Petersen, rhp	R-R	6-4	180	Ryan HS, Denton, Texas	2008
Brooks Raley, lhp/of	L-L	6-2	170	Uvalde (Texas) HS	2007
Preston Tucker, of	L-L	6-1	190	Plant HS, Tampa	2008
Coaching Staff: Victor Solis, Gateway (Ariz.) Community College; Mark Elkins, Harrison High School, Kennesaw, Ga.; Jack Hodges, Saddleback (Calif.) Community College; Mike Power, Roswell (Ga.) High School.