April 21, 2009

ARLINGTON, Texas - UT Arlington center fielder Michael Choice has been invited to the 2009 USA Baseball National Team Trials in Cary, N.C., USA Baseball officials announced Tuesday. The trials are scheduled for June 15-24 at the USA Baseball National Training Complex, as 36 of the top collegiate, non-draft eligible players in the country compete for a spot on the 22-man USA Baseball National Team roster that will be announced June 24. Choice made the list of 17 initial invitees.

Choice, a sophomore from Mansfield (Timberview H.S.), is the first player ever from UT Arlington to be invited to the USA Baseball National Team trials.

"I was really shocked and excited," Choice said of his initial reaction. "I never would have thought I would have been invited to play for such a team. This is a real honor. There are only 36 players in the nation getting invited to tryout."

Choice is currently batting .396 with 34 RBI and leads the Mavericks with eight home runs this season. Following an initial collegiate season that saw Choice break the school record for batting average as a freshman (.376) and be named to five freshman All-American teams in 2008, Choice is considered by many as one of the top hitters in the state of Texas.

"That says a lot about what they think of me as a player. I'm excited to just be able to go tryout for Team USA."

Maverick second-year head coach Darin Thomas knows this is a great honor and one that doesn't come around very often.

"We are all just really excited for Mike. It is a great honor for him and for everyone who is invited. That doesn't happen all of the time and I know it hasn't happened here. I am really excited for him."

The national team is the defending gold medalist in the last three FISU World Collegiate Baseball Championships. This summer the USA Baseball National Team will play a 35-game schedule, with games being played in North Carolina, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Japan and Canada.

Then the USA National team will compete in the 37th Annual Japan vs. USA Collegiate Championships before completing the summer slate in Canada at the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline World Baseball Challenge in Prince George, British Columbia.

The 2009 USA Baseball National Team will be coached by Tulane University head coach Rick Jones. Assistant coaches include pitching coach Mike Kennedy (head coach, Elon University), Dan McDonnell (head coach, Louisville University) and Rob Cooper (head coach, Wright State University).

Darin Thomas
On the opportunity for Michael Choice to tryout for the USA Baseball National Team
"I think the biggest thing will be the competition. You get pushed somewhat here - from high school to college - but he is going to be trying out for a team with some of the best players in the nation. Competition brings out the best in good players. I think that will be the No. 1 thing, he is going to be exposed to some great competition and to some great coaching.

On Michael Choice's progress as a player at UT Arlington
"On the field, the one thing I have seen is Mike has the ability to make adjustments on his own. Any good hitter makes adjustments on their own. They don't have to constantly be told to do this or do that. As coaches, you have to be careful to coach too much. You have to let good players play and let them learn on their own, but at the same time try to help them. I think Mike has done a great job of making adjustments from at-bat-to-at-bat, pitch-to-pitch and game-to-game.

Michael Choice
On his progress during his two years at UT Arlington
"I have just tried to take things step-by-step. I just try to go out and play hard every game. I haven't expected any of this (success). I hardly got recruited out of high school. I was just thankful to be at a Division I program and then it just led to looking for a spot and things have fell into place. Playing hard every day is what I feel has led me to getting a lot of these accomplishments."

On going to compete with the top players in the nation
"I'm just going to treat it like any other game. All of the other guys are just like anybody else. All they are doing is going out and playing hard just like I am. I just have to go out and compete."

On being recognized for his accomplishments at UT Arlington
"It is a good feeling. I have always dreamed of having my name out there and wanting to play professionally. So for people to notice what I have been doing means a lot. I just have to keep my head on straight and keep working hard."

On his goals for the remainder of this season with the Mavericks
"I definitely feel like we have a good chance to win our conference and to win our tournament and to go to a Regional. That should be everyone's goal on the team. I feel like if there is any year that we can do it I feel like this is the year. Everyone is together on this team, everyone likes each other and even the guys who don't play all of the time are still great players and that is what makes our team good."

On what the UT Arlington coaching staff has done to help him as a player
"They have really helped me mature and learn the game better. College baseball is a lot different than summer ball and high school - it is a lot more mental. They have helped make me a better person and to stay grounded. They have taught me to go out and play hard every day."

2009 USA Baseball National Team Trials Invitees (through April 21, 2009)
Michael Choice, OF, UT Arlington
Gerrit Cole, RHP, UCLA
Christian Colon, IF, Cal State Fullerton
Derek Dietrich, IF, Georgia Tech
Blake Forsythe, C, Tennessee
Micah Gibbs, C, LSU
Sonny Gray, RHP, Vanderbilt
Yasmani Grandal, C, Miami (Fla.)
Rick Hague, IF, Rice
Chris Hernandez, LHP, Miami (Fla.)
Deck McGuire, RHP, Georgia Tech
Hunter Morris, 1B, Auburn
Drew Pomeranz, LHP, Mississippi
Anthony Ranaudo, RHP, LSU
Anthony Rendon, IF, Rice
Logan Verrett, RHP, Baylor
Tony Zych, RHP, Louisville