June 19, 2001

San Diego - San Diego State sophomore pitcher Royce Ring is among 22 athletes named to the 2001 USA Baseball National Team. The announcement, made today by USA Baseball, comes after four days of trials in Tucson, Arizona.

Ring, a 6-0 left-hander from San Diego (Monte Vista HS), was the Aztecs' closer this past season. In 32 appearances out of the bullpen (37.2 innings), he compiled a record of 6-2 with nine saves and a 1.19 earned run average while striking out 45 and walking only eight. He was a first-team All-Mountain West Conference selection.

Team USA will play 29 more games on the Red, White and Blue Summer Tour, following its first game of the summer last night, which it won 5-1 over the Chicago Cubs rookie level affiliate at HoHoKam Park in Mesa, Arizona. Team USA will now travel overseas on Wednesday to the 30th annual USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Series, which this year will be played in Japan. That five-game series begins on Saturday, June 23, at Okinawa.

Florida's Pat McMahon is serving as the head coach for Team USA. He is assisted by Dusty Rhodes of North Florida, Paul Stevens of Northwestern, and Bob Todd of Ohio State.

Fans can follow Team USA on its summer tour at the USA Baseball web site.