Sept. 17, 2009

ARLINGTON, Texas - Baseball America recently released its Top Prospect List for 18 college summer leagues and Team USA. Two UT Arlington players were listed among the top collegiate summer-league players as Michael Choice (Team USA) and Rett Varner (Coppell - Texas Collegiate League) both appeared on the list.

Choice, a junior from Mansfield, Texas, was listed as the No. 8 prospect from Team USA. Choice finished the summer batting .350 (21-for-60) with 13 runs, three doubles, three home runs and 13 RBI.

He hit three homers at the World Baseball Challenge while leading Team USA to the championship. His three home runs gave him the Home Run Hitting Award (most homers at the tourney) and he was one of four Team USA player named to the all-tournament team.

Varner returns to the Mavericks for his redshirt-junior season after being drafted in the 34th round of the 2009 draft by the Chicago Cubs. Varner was tabbed the fourth best prospect out of the Texas Collegiate League while helping the Coppell Copperheads to the TCL crown.

Varner was named the TCL Pitcher of the Year while going 4-2 with a 1.17 ERA in 46.0 innings. He was dominating with 47 strikeouts in seven starts allowing only seven walks and a .159 opponent batting average. He was one of only three pitchers in the TCL to be named all-league.