June 24, 2005
WACO, Texas - Baylor sophomore Jeff Mandel has been added to the USA Baseball National Team Trials roster, the governing body of amateur baseball announced Friday. Mandel, a right-handed pitcher and first baseman at Baylor, is among 39 players who will compete at North Carolina State in Raleigh, N.C., June 27-30, for a spot on the 20-man roster. He was added after Nebraska pitcher Johnny Dorn was forced to withdraw due to injury.
One of 10 invitees that participated in the 2005 College World Series, Mandel posted a 4-0 record with a staff-best 1.91 ERA for the Bears this spring. In 66.0 innings over 25 appearances, he held opponents to a .221 batting average. Mandel was even more dominant during the NCAA Tournament; he posted a 2-0 record with a .115 opponents' batting average in 7.2 scoreless innings.
In limited action at the plate during the 2005 season, Mandel hit .205 with two home runs and eight doubles. None of his hits were more memorable than his eventual game-winning home run in the top of the 12th inning of the NCAA Waco Regional championship game against Stanford.
Mandel joins fellow Baylor sophomore Cory VanAllen at the trials. Eight Baylor student-athletes have participated on USA Baseball National Teams, including Jason Jennings twice. Michael Griffin was the last Bear to play with the National Team, doing so in 2003.
For a full roster of this year's 39 invitees, visit www.usabaseball.com.
In addition, the full 24-game USA Baseball National Team schedule has been posted online at http://www.usabaseball.com/sports/m-nat-basebl/sched/usab-m-nat-basebl-sched.html. All 24 Team USA games this summer will be available on Gametracker by College Sports Online - a feature that allows fans to access up-to-the-minute statistics and box scores while games are in progress.
Team USA opens the summer Saturday, July 2, at 7 p.m. against the Torrington Twisters in Torrington, Conn. Team USA will participate in the 34th Annual USA against Japan Collegiate Championship Series in Japan, July 8-12, and a Friendship Series against Taiwan in Chinese Taipei, July 15-19, prior to returning home to play six exhibition games at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
The 2005 National Team will be coached by Baylor head coach Steve Smith; his assistants are Steve Cohen of Kentucky and Rob Walton of Oral Roberts. Andrew Norton of Duke will serve as team athletic trainer, and Larry Little of Baylor will serve as team press officer.
