North Buncombe Star Makes Usa Baseball National Team

August 26, 2013

FULLERTON, Calif. — USA Baseball announced the 20 players named to the 2013 18U National Team immediately following play at the 2013 USA Baseball 18U National Team Trials in Fullerton, Calif. Players competed over five days for the final spots.

One player from a North Carolina High School Athletic Association member school, lefthander pitcher and outfielder Alex Destino of North Buncombe, made the prestigious squad, according to USA Baseball.

For the second consecutive year, the 18U National Team hosted trials at California State University, Fullerton, near Los Angeles. Trials also included games at Long Beach State’s Blair Field, Dodger Stadium and the University of San Diego’s Fowler Park. The 2012 18U National Team that won the IBAF 18U World Championships conducted their final trials at Cal State Fullerton as well.

These 20 players will compete in the 2013 IBAF Junior ‘AAA’/18U World Cup in Taichung, which begins on Aug. 30 with medal round competition on Sept. 8.

The 18U National Team will be managed by newly named Penn State head coach Rob Cooper. Cooper served as an assistant coach on two USA Baseball Collegiate National Teams. He will be joined in the dugout by pitching coach Mike Maack and assistants Eric Munson and Kevin Wilson.

The team administration will be overseen by 18U National Team director Brant Ust, with the assistance of 18U National Team coordinator Mark Dvoroznak. Steve Domzalski, from Wayne State University, will serve as the athletic trainer, and USA Baseball’s Cody Wilcoxson will travel as the team’s press officer.

The Asheville Citizen-Times reported that Destino was last year’s Mountain Athletic Conference Player of the Year. He batted a whopping .471 with eight homers and 33 RBI while posting an 8-2 mark on the mound, with a 1.30 earned run average and 97 strikeouts in just 53 2/3 innings.

For more information on the 18U National Team, please visit USABaseball.com.

The 20-man 2013 USA Baseball 18U National Team roster is as follows:

Name, Position, Hometown

Brady Aiken, LHP, Cardiff by the Sea, Calif.

Bryson Brigman, IF/OF, San Jose, Calif.

Joe DeMers, RHP, Martinez, Calif.

Alex Destino, LHP/OF, Weaverville, N.C.

Jack Flaherty, IF/RHP, Burbank, Calif.

Marvin Gorgas, RHP/IF, East Hampton, Conn.

Adam Haseley, OF/LHP, Windermere, Fla.

Scott Hurst, OF, Glendora, Calif.

Kel Johnson, OF, Palmetto, Ga.