McGrew named to 22-man USA Collegiate National Team roster
CARY, N.C. -- It took 10 days at the USA Collegiate National Team Trials, but on Thursday, June 25, Wright State baseball junior outfielder Casey McGrew learned that he would be a member of the 22-man roster to compete this summer for Team USA.
McGrew will participate in the upcoming summer tour, which starts on Thursday with a game versus Canada at the National Training Complex.
"It was unexpected," said McGrew. "We had our meetings with the coaches last night and they asked me how I felt. I told them that I would be ready for the season and coach Jones just said, welcome to the team. It probably won't truly sink in until I am standing on the field tonight and hear that National Anthem and am wearing USA across my chest."
McGrew is only the third WSU player to be invited to the trials and is the second player ever to be named to Team USA (Jeremy Hamilton, 2007). As a school, WSU becomes the 53rd program with two or more players selected to compete for the Collegiate National Team, with Stanford's 24 leading the way. Wright State is also one of only 11 schools in a cold weather state to have more than one representative on the USA Collegiate National Team roster.
"Casey was invited to the trial as an option in the outfield and as a left-handed bat," Wright State head coach Rob Cooper said. "With the type of player that Casey is, he really made a spot for himself on this team with the things he is able to do. The coaching staff was impressed with his ability to run the bases, play all three outfield positions and the way he handled the bat."
McGrew had a solid season for the Raiders, helping them to the 2009 Horizon League Championship and an appearance at the NCAA Fort Worth Regional. The junior was named to the All-Fort Worth Regional squad after collecting four RBI, one homerun and a run. The outfielder was 4-for-9 at the plate in two starts at the Fort Worth Regional.
"This has been an unbelievable experience to this point and I can't wait for the opportunity to represent Team USA," McGrew said. "All of the players here have been focused on making this the best team possible. It is great to get to bond with a team this quickly and for everyone to be focused on one goal."
The junior is coming off of a season that included First Team All-Horizon League honors, All-Region honors and a slew of career highs. He hit .340 in 2009, with a career-best 61 runs, 83 hits, 22 doubles, 52 RBI and 31 walks. He owned a .418 on-base percentage and his 136 total bases rank seventh in a single season at Wright State. McGrew is tied atop the single-season list with 63 games started, joining teammate Jeff Mercer, while his 61 runs are fifth and his 83 hits sit sixth on the single-season list.
McGrew will wear the number 17 while with Team USA, different from his usual 22 he wears with the Raiders. The Delaware, Ohio, native is excited for the change in numerals, with the #17 being his number during his high school days.
"My dad wore the number 17 when he played and I wore that number during my early years of playing baseball," McGrew told us. "When Team USA said they did not have the number 22, there was no second thought, it was the number 17 and I will wear it proudly."
Team USA will open its competition schedule with a five-game set against Canada starting June 25, before hosting Guatemala for four games in North Carolina. After a three-game swing through the New England Collegiate Baseball League, Team USA will head to Japan for the 37th Annual USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Championships. The Championships will be contested at multiple sites, including the Tokyo Dome. Team USA will finish their summer with a trip to Prince George, British Columbia for the World Baseball Challenge.
2009 Collegiate National Team Schedule
June 25-29 vs. Canadian National Team
July 1-4 vs. Guatemalan National Team
July 5-7 vs. New England Collegiate Baseball League
July 10 vs. Kokusai Budo University (Tokyo, Japan)
July 11-16 -- 37th USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Championship
July 18-26 -- World Baseball Challenge (Prince Georgia, British Columbia)
Games versus Canada, Bahamas, USA-Reno, Prince George Axeman, Chinese Taipei, Beijing Tigers and Germany.
Release courtesy of Wright State Baseball SID Greg Campbell
