June 30, 2009

ARLINGTON, Texas - In a short period of time UT Arlington center fielder Michael Choice went from trying to make the USA Baseball National Team (Collegiate) to leading Team USA to a five-game sweep over Team Canada in their first games of the summer. Choice, who will enter his junior year at UT Arlington in 2009-10, led USA with a .615 batting average, which included three multi-hit games while starting four games in the outfield.

Choice, who was named to the 22-man, Team USA roster on June 24, feels that since he and his teammates made the official roster it has allowed everyone to play more relaxed on a day-to-day basis.

"I definitely think that we are all more relaxed," Choice said. "Now you don't have to worry about going home. We can just look forward to the next day because we play every day. If you don't get it done one day you will have a chance the next."

Choice has certainly produced thus far going 8-for-13 (.615) with four runs scored, one double, a stolen base and six RBI in four starts in the outfield and one pinch-hit at-bat.

In fact, Choice has played out of position in three of his four starts in the outfield, starting in left field during three games and making his most recent start at his natural position in center field. In Team USA's series finale victory over Team Canada - 9-3 win on Monday night - Choice tallied his first outfield assist while throwing out a runner with a relay at home plate.

"At first it was a little weird (playing left field) because the ball has a different angle off the bat playing in the corner outfield," Choice said. "But I adjusted to it pretty quick. I actually played left field my freshman year in high school. So I'm a little more comfortable with left field."

He didn't waste time recording his first base hit with Team USA with a single up the middle in his first at-bat against Team Canada on June 25, the day after the team's final roster was announced.

"Canada had mostly really young pitchers that were coming out of high school," Choice said. "But they all had good arms. We faced a 2nd rounder, a 5th rounder and a 10th rounder in the five games. They were good pitchers. They were just young and gave up some mistakes."

On Saturday, June 27, Choice and Team USA had a guest coach as Florida Marlins' 2003 World Series-Winning Manager Jack McKeon filled in for USA head coach Rick Jones as the field manager for the game. Team USA won that game 14-5, and although Choice didn't start, he had one at-bat as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning.

"It was a great experience," Choice said about meeting McKeon. "He has so much wisdom of the game, he can just talk for hours and hours about his experiences and situations he has been involved in. He has coached and been around so many great players. His knowledge about the game is just incredible."

Three of Team USA's opening games were played in Durham, N.C., where they played at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Choice went 5-for-7 (.714) in his three games played in the minor league facility. He said it was a great experience playing at the minor league park.

"It is great," Choice said. "We have put together a really good fan base every game so far, especially the first game we played at Durham. It is fun to play in front of a lot of people. It is such a different vibe with everyone chanting U-S-A. We have our entire country cheering for us."

Choice and the rest of the Team USA members had their first off day on Tuesday since arriving at the National Training Complex on June 14. Tuesday's day off still consisted of a morning weights session before the players were released for the remainder of the day.

Choice and Team USA will be back in action starting Wednesday, July 1, as they host Guatemala for a four-game series, which will be played at three different ballparks in North Carolina. Wednesday's first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. (ET) at Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium in Kannapolis, N.C.

Michael Choice
On making the team and then starting the summer with five games against Team Canada...
- "At first, everyone was just excited to be on the team. We just tried to get a rhythm going for how our team would be lineup-wise. Once we did that, it was our third game and Canada scored five in the first inning and that is when we started to feel some pressure because last year's team went undefeated. We just relaxed and started playing our game from there."

On the type of pitching staffs for Team USA and Team Canada...
- "The level of competition is through the roof. I feel like the type of pitching we have right now we could go compete with some minor league teams. Canada's pitchers were good. They were just young and gave up some mistakes."

On the atmosphere and the following Team USA has had in Cary and Durham, N.C...
- "The atmosphere is almost just like professional baseball. There are distractions, you are signing autographs all of the time, people want to talk to you and meet you all of the time. It is definitely a big stage."

On Team USA's next opponent Guatemala...
- "I really don't know what to expect. Our coach said they will be a lot like Canada. I don't really know what to expect with them. I am going to go out there and play my hardest and I know my team will too."

For complete coverage of Michael Choice with Team USA follow his daily updates at www.utamavs.com