USA Baseball 2016 18U National Team Announced, 12 Under Armour All-Americans Make Roster
USA Baseball officially announced the 20-man roster for the 2016 18U National Team and 12 Under Armour All-Americans who played in the 2016 game, made the cut.
The team, managed by Glenn Cecchini – father of Gavin and Garin Cecchini, current major league players and former Baseball Factory and All-America standouts – will compete in the COPABE Pan American “AAA” Championships in Monterrey, Mexico, which runs from September 30th to October 9th.
Experience is on the side of this year’s team with talented players who know what it takes to get it done.
Last year, the 18U National Team took home the Gold Medal at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-18 World Cup in Japan. Three players who played in this year’s All-America Game in July at Wrigley Field were part of that squad and will play again this year: UCLA Commit, RHP Hagen Danner (events – 2011 Little League World Series Filming in Williamsport, PA, Under Armour Baseball Factory College PREP – Costa Mesa, CA, April 2016), UCLA Commit, IF/RHP Hunter Greene (events – 2016 Under Armour All-America Game) and USC Commit, IF Nick Pratto (events -2011 Little League World Series Filming in Williamsport, PA, Under Armour Baseball Factory College PREP – Costa Mesa, CA, April 2016 )
“It is a great honor to be chosen to represent your country,” said Steve Bernhardt, Executive Vice President of Baseball Factory and Chairman of the Under Armour All-America Game selection committee. “I offer my congratulations to all of the players selected for the USA Baseball 18U National Team including the twelve young men that participated in this year’s Under Armour All-America Game. Matt Blood, Glenn Cecchini and the rest of the USA Baseball staff have done an outstanding job of selecting the team, and I wish them the best of luck in Mexico.”
Nine other former Baseball Factory standouts will also join this already-talented roster, including:
USC Commit, IF Nick Allen – 2013 & 2014 Under Armour Southwest Championships, 2014 Under Armour SoCal Classic, 2014 & 2015 Baseball Factory Futures West, 2016 Under Armour All-America Pre-Season Tournament, Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout – Costa Mesa, CA, April 2016
TCU Commit, RHP Shane Baz – 2016 Under Armour All-America Game
University of Miami Commit, 2019 IF Triston Casas – 2014 Under Armour Memorial Day Classic, 2014 Under Armour Southeast Championships, Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout – Davie, FL, November 2014, 2016 Baseball Factory National Florida Showcase
USC Commit, RHP Hans Crouse – 2016 Under Armour All-America Game
Mississippi State Commit, OF Quentin Holmes – 2016 Under Armour All-America Game
UC Irvine Commit, IF/OF Royce Lewis – 2016 Under Armour All-America Game
Florida International Commit, C MJ Melendez – 2015 Baseball Factory Futures East
Oklahoma State University Commit, LHP Mitchell Stone – Under Armour Baseball Factory College PREP – Oklahoma City, OK, March 2016
Oklahoma State University Commit, IF Ryan Vilade – 2013 & 2015 Under Armour Futures Series Texas, 2015 Under Armour All-America Pre-Season Tournament, Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout – Plano, TX, April 2015