Freshman Bengochea Makes The Cut, Joins USA National Team
June 22, 2000
Coral Gables, FL (www.hurricanesports.com) – USA Baseball has announced University of Miami freshman pitcher Kiki Bengochea as one of 22 players who made the cut at the US WEST USA Baseball National Team Trials, which were held at the US WEST Sports Compex at Hi Corbett Field in Tucson, AZ.
The team was selected from a pool of 37 players and Southern California’s Mike Gillespie will serve as the head coach for the USA National Team, which will play 30 games on the US WEST Red, White and Blue Summer Tour. Team USA has played four games against the Mexican National Team and has a 4-0 record. The team will play once more against Mexico, before departing for Hawai’i on Friday, June 22. The 29th annual USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star series will begin on Sunday, June 24 in Honolulu.
Bengochea (1-0, 0.00 ERA), one of four freshmen to make the 22-man final roster, earned the win for USA in the Summer Tour opening, 5-0, shutout of Mexico. He pitched the first 3.0 innings with one hit allowed and six strikeouts.
Bengochea, an honorable mention Freshman All-American by Louisville Slugger, finished his rookie season at UM with a 5-5 record and a 3.90 ERA as the Hurricanes No. 3 starter. Elevated to a starter’s role early in the season, Bengochea marched out to a 4-1 record and earned Mid-Season All-American honors by Baseball America. Sometimes plagued by a lack of run support, Bengochea had six no-decisions in his 14 starts and finished third on the team with 69 strikeouts and 90.0 innings pitched.
A third round draft pick by the Kansas City Royals out of Miami’s Columbus School in 1999, Bengochea became the nation’s fourth-highest drafted player to forgo professional baseball and enroll in college. Following his senior campaign at Columbus, Bengochea was named All-State and County first teams, as well as Miami Herald Player of the Year.
Bengochea joins an impressive list of former Hurricanes who have played for USA Baseball: Jeff Alkire (1992), Pat Burrell (97), Manny Crespo (99), Jorge Fabregas (90), Alex Fernandez (88), Mike Fiore (87-88), Joe Grahe (88), Danny Graves (93), Bobby Hill (98), Charles Johnson (91-92), Robbie Morrison (97), Alex Santos (98) and Jay Tessmer (94).
2000 USA Baseball Red, White and Blue Summer Tour RosterPlayer Pos Ht Wt B/T Yr School HometownBaker, Jeff IF 6-1 195 R/R Fr Clemson Woodbridge, VABurke, Chris IF 5-11 180 R/R So Tennessee Louisville, KYBengochea, Kiki RHP 6-2 195 R/R Fr Miami Miami, FLBoyd, Patrick OF 6-3 200 S/R Jr Clemson Palm Harbor, FLBrazelton, Dewon RHP 6-4 205 R/R So Middle Tennessee St. Tullahoma, TNBudde, Ryan C 5-10 182 R/R So Oklahoma State Midwest City, OKCarlson, Zane RHP 5-10 160 R/R Fr Baylor Dallas, TXCrosby, Bobby IF 6-3 190 R/R So Long Beach State Cypress, CADinardo, Len LHP 6-4 190 L/L So Stetson High Springs, FLGautreau, Jake IF 6-0 180 L/R So Tulane McAllen, TXGosling, Mike LHP 6-2 210 L/L So Stanford Salt Lake City, UTHoward, Ryan IF 6-4 215 L/L So SW Missouri State St. Louis, MOKarp, Josh RHP 6-5 195 R/R So UCLA Bothell, WALewis, Richard IF 6-1 180 R/R So Georgia Tech Marietta, GAMerritt, Tim IF/OF 6-0 180 R/R So South Alabama Cantonment, FLMyers, Casey C 5-11 190 R/R Sr Arizona State Casa Grande, AZNady, Xavier IF 6-2 205 R/R Jr California Salinas, CAPrior, Mark RHP 6-5 220 R/R So USC Bonita, CAReyes, Anthony RHP 6-1 200 R/R Fr USC Whittier, CASaarloos, Kirk RHP 6-0 180 R/R Jr Cal State Fullerton Long Beach, CASwitzer, Jon LHP 6-2 180 L/L So Arizona State Houston, TXTeixeira, Mark IF 6-2 215 R/R So Georgia Tech Severna Park, MD
