Baseball's Kevin Howard Invited To USA National Team Trials

May 23, 2001

University of Miami sophomore third baseman Kevin Howard was among six additional players invited to participate in the 2001 USA Baseball National Team Trials, to be held in Tucson, AZ, June 16-19.

Howard, from Thousand Oaks, CA, joins teammate Kiki Bengochea, who was among the first 19 college players invited on May 2. The USA National Team will be selected from a pool of 25 players. Team USA will play approximately 30 games on the Red, White and Blue Summer Tour, beginning on June 18 with an exhibition game against the Chicago Cubs rookie level affiliate at HoHoKam Park in Mesa, AZ.

Team USA will then travel to the 30th annual USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-StarSeries, which this year will be played in Japan.

Entering the 2001 postseason, the former National Freshman of the Year places second on the team in batting average (.330), hits (71) and total bases (98). Howard also leads the team with 16 doubles, 215 at bats and places second in total plate appearances (231), games played (54) and games started (54). Defensively, he leads the club with 140 assists and has fielded 20 double plays. Additionally, Howard was named to the All-Tournament Team at the 2001 Hormel Foods Baseball Classic at the Minneapolis MetroDome. Entering the 2001 season, Howard was a preseason All-American by Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball and Street & Smith’s.

For the second straight year, Bengochea is among the group of college players vying for spots on the National Team. Following his freshman campaign in 2000, Bengochea was among the first players invited to the Trials. He eventually made the team and recorded a perfect 3-0 record coming out of the bullpen with a 0.00 ERA in 20.0 innings pitched. He assisted the National team to an all-time best 1.56 team ERA, 27-3-1 record and a championship at the Honkbal Tournament.