DURHAM, N.C. – University of Hawai'i Rainbow outfielder Kolten Wong has been invited to the 2009 USA Baseball National Team Trials, to be held at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C. from June 15-24, the organization announced Thursday.

 

Wong is one of 36 collegiate players that were invited to the trials and will be vying for a spot on the final 22-man roster, which will be announced on June 24.

 

The Hilo, Hawai'i, native was the Western Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year, earning first team all-WAC as well as Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America honors. He started all 58 games for UH in centerfield, batting .341 with 11 home runs, 21 doubles, two triples, 52 RBI, 46 runs and 11 stolen bases.

 

The 2009 National Team will compete in several exhibition games in the Triangle-area of North Carolina, including two friendly series against the Canadian National Team, June 25-29, and Guatemala, July 2-4, which will be played across both the Durham Bulls Athletic Park and the USA Baseball National Training Complex. Following its domestic exhibition schedule, the U.S. will travel to Japan to compete in the 37th Annual Japan vs. USA Collegiate Championships before closing out its summer in Canada at the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline World Baseball Challenge in Prince George, British Columbia.

 

The 2009 team will be coached by Tulane University head coach Rick Jones, who previously served as an assistant coach for the red, white and blue on the 1989 Presidential Cup Team and 1990 National Team. Jones is joined by pitching coach Mike Kennedy (head coach, Elon University) and assistant coaches Dan McDonnell (head coach, Louisville University) and Rob Cooper (head coach, Wright State University; 2007 USA Baseball National Team assistant coach).