Bengcohea, Howard Earn Invites To USA Baseball Trials

May 9, 2001

Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) — – Kiki Bengochea was among the first 19 collegiate players invited to participate in the 2001 USA Baseball National Team Trials – to be held in Tucson, Arizona June 16-19. Kevin Howard was recently selected in the second wave of invitations.

The USA National Team will be selected from a pool of approximately 20-29 players. Team USA will play 30 games on the Red, White and Blue Summer Tour, beginning on June 22 with the 30th annual USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Series, which this year will be played in Japan.

Last season following his freshman campaign at Miami, Bengochea was among the first players invited and eventually made the team. He compiled a 3-0 record for Team USA with a 0.00 ERA in 20.0 innings. He assisted the National team to an all-time best 1.56 team ERA and 27-3-1 record.

Howard was chosen to be a member of the 1998 Junior National Team, but due to no qualifying tournament for the World Championships no games were ever played.