Ohio University Hosts USA National Team Red, White and Blue Tour Game

Contact: George Mauzy, (740) 597-1794 or mauzy@ohio.edu

Editors: A photo of Joe Carbone speaking at the news conference can be downloaded at: www.ohiou.edu/news/pix/BASEBALL.JPG

ATHENS, Ohio (June 27, 2001) -- Ohio University announced today that it will host a USA National Team Red, White and Blue Tour game at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 14, at Bob Wren Stadium in Athens. The game features a matchup between the USA National Team and the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League All-Stars.

Tickets are $4 for adults and $2 for children 15 and younger and are available at the Ohio University Athletics Ticket Office in the Convocation Center (ticket sales are cash only) or at the gate. Children 15 and younger wearing a youth league sports uniform will be admitted free if accompanied by an adult. The game will be preceded by player autograph sessions beginning at 11:20 a.m. and a home run contest starting at 12:40 p.m.

Ohio University Baseball Coach Joe Carbone will be presented an Olympic ring before the game. He served as an assistant coach for the professional USA Baseball Team that won a silver medal at the 1999 Pan-Am Games in Winnipeg, Canada.

"I'm extremely excited about this game and I hope we fill the stadium," Carbone said. "The reason we're having this game is the community. Our area youth probably don't get a chance to see a lot of professional games, so we're bringing in some of the outstanding young players in the country, many who will be major-league stars in the future."

The USA National Team's Red, White and Blue Tour began June 18 in Mesa, Ariz., vs. the Chicago Cubs Rookie League Team and ends on July 27 with a doubleheader against Taiwan in Trenton, N.J. The tour includes games in Arizona, Japan, Alaska, Minnesota, Ohio, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, New York and New Jersey.

Parkersburg, W.Va., native Nick Swisher, son of Bobcat All-American and former major-leaguer Steve Swisher, is one of 22 players on the USA National Team roster. The Great Lakes All-Stars will include several current Bobcat players.

Former USA National Team members include professional standouts such as Mark McGwire, Tino Martinez, Nomar Garciaparra, John Smoltz, Matt Williams, Robin Ventura and Barry Larkin.

"The motivation behind this contest is community entertainment," said Andrew Kreutzer, coordinator of Ohio University's Sports Administration program. "This game will provide family entertainment during the summer."

Eleven of the first 26 players selected in the 2001 Major League Draft, including five of the first six picks, were former USA Baseball players. Seven members of the 2000 USA National Team were first-round choices. Overall, 51 USA Baseball alumni were drafted during the two-day draft in June.

The Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League consists of 11 teams based in Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania. The wooden bat league provides opportunities for college players to improve their skills during the summer. Teams in the league are the Columbus All-Americans, Delaware Cows, Grand Lake Mariners, Lake Erie Monarchs, Lima Locos, Michigan Panthers, Motor City Marauders, Northern Ohio Baseball, Pittsburgh Pandas, Stark County Terriers and Youngstown Express.