North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack's Devine Lands Spot on Final Team USA Roster
6/27/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
June 27, 2004
By Tony Haynes
After pitching what can only be described as two dominant innings over the weekend, NC State sophomore Joey Devine has made the cut and earned a spot on the U.S. National Team's final 22-man roster. Initially invited to the 36-member trials roster, Devine retired all six men he faced in USA wins over Canada on Thursday and Friday nights. The Wolfpack reliever will now be a part of a squad that will compete in the World University Games to be played in Taiwan from July 22 though August 1.
Named First-Team All-ACC for the second time this past season after recording 10 saves, Devine contributed to the first no-hitter in USA history Thursday night when he struck out all three men he faced in the 8th inning of team USA's 9-0 victory. The sophomore right-hander was one of five American pitchers who held the Canadians without a hit over nine innings.
In his second appearance on Friday night, Devine again retired the side in order, striking out one to close out USA's 13-4 victory. Devine is joined on the squad by NC State head coach Elliott Avent, who is serving as an assistant coach.
The 22-man roster features 12 position players, nine pitchers and one utility player. The squad is comprised of players from 15 colleges, eight conferences, 12 states and features two returning National Team players (Jeff Clement - Southern California, Mark Romanczuk - Stanford) and three players with experience on the USA Junior National Team (Daniel Bard - North Carolina, Chris Valaika - UC Santa Barbara, Ian Kennedy - Southern California). In addition, five players who were not selected from the Trials last year, made the team this season (Travis Buck - Arizona State, Taylor Teagarden - Texas, Mike Pelfrey - Wichita State, John Mayberry Jr. and Devine.
"There were some tough decisions to make to put this team together, but as a coaching staff we feel like we have a great group of 22 players to bring home the gold medal," said head coach Frank Cruz of Loyola Marymount. "Releasing players is never easy, especially when you have the best college baseball players in the nation. This is a group of young men that are excited to represent our country on the baseball field."
Team USA won all four games against Canada during the trials stage and will finish the six-game series against the Canadians on the road Tuesday (June 29) in Myrtle Beach, S.C. at Coastal Federal Field.
The club will then wing its way to Japan for a five-game series against the Japanese All-Stars from July 2-8.
Fans in the Triangle area will get another chance to see Devine and Team USA when the club hosts Chinese Taipei in a four-game series at Durham Bulls Athletic Park on July 15, 16, 17, 18.
