MONARCH HURLER INVITED TO NATIONAL TEAM TRIALS

Old Dominion University sophomore righthander Justin Verlander -- a pre-season All-American and the 2002 CAA Rookie of the Year and Freshman All-American -- is on the list of the first eight collegiate players invited to participate in the 2003 USA Baseball National Team Trials to be held June 21-27 in Tucson, Ariz.

The USA National Team will be selected from a pool of 35 players, of which an additional 27 have yet to be determined. USA Baseball's final selection of athletes that will comprise the team that will represent the USA at the 2003 Pan Am Games, is subject to the approval of the United States Olympic Committee.

The official team roster will be determinded and announced on June 27. The 2003 USA Baseball National Team will open play on July 2 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park against Japan. South Carolina's Ray Tanner will serve as head coach for Team USA. He will be assisted by Dick Cooke of Davidson, Mark Scalf of UNC Wilmington, and Mike Weathers of Long Beach State.

Verlander is 4-3 thus far this season with victories over Vanderbilt and Oklahoma State. He is leads the CAA in strikeouts with 57 in 53 innings and is third in earned run average at 2.21.