Feb. 14, 2013

NOTRE DAME, Ind. –

This season the University of Notre Dame baseball team is set to take part in the inaugural USA Baseball-Irish Baseball Classic (March 1-3). The tournament, which is set to take place at Team USA Baseball’s national training complex in Cary, N.C., was set up in large part by Irish head baseball coach Mik Aoki and Notre Dame baseball monogram winner Brant Ust.

“Our program is thrilled with the prospect of teaming up with USA Baseball to host this tournament,” said third-year head coach Mik Aoki. “The staff at USA Baseball is the best of the best and the facility speaks for itself. It will be a tremendous event and we look forward to continuing the relationship long into the future.”

The six-team tournament will be presented by the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance and played at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C. In addition to Notre Dame, the field of teams for 2013 includes Tennessee, Virginia Tech, Massachusetts, Ohio and Rhode Island.

Ust, who played second base and shortstop for the Irish and was named the BIG EAST Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year during his first two seasons at Notre Dame, now serves as the Director of Alumni Relations for the U.S. U-18 team and is thrilled about his alma mater and Team USA teaming together to put on this event.

“We at USA Baseball are very excited and feel that Notre Dame is a perfect partner to co-host with in providing a weekend of top level college baseball,” remarked Ust. “It has been a pleasure working with Coach Aoki, Josh Berlo (Senior Assistant Athletics Director/Baseball Administrator at Notre Dame) and his staff in making this event a reality.

“Obviously as an alum, I’m thrilled to have the Irish in my backyard. Whenever Notre Dame is involved in anything it will attract the attention of those in the area and region to come out to the National Training Complex and take in a few games.”

For those in the area and wanting to attend, tickets for the USA Baseball-Irish Classic are on sale at www.und.com/tickets or by calling (574) 631-7356 Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET. Weekend passes cost $25 per adult. Day passes are also available for $10 per adult. Children under the age of 12 will be admitted free of charge. Limited and service charges may apply.

Please see below for a complete schedule of the weekend tournament.

USA BASEBALL-IRISH CLASSIC PRESENTED BY THE GREATER RALEIGH SPORTS ALLIANCE SCHEDULE
Friday, March 1st12 p.m. - Field 2 (Virginia Tech vs. Rhode Island)3 p.m. - Field 3 (Notre Dame vs. UMass)3:30 p.m. - Field 2 (Virginia Tech vs. Ohio)6:30 p.m. - Coleman Field (Notre Dame vs. Tennessee)
Saturday, March 2nd12 p.m. - Coleman Field (Rhode Island vs. Ohio)3 p.m. - Field 2 (Tennessee vs. UMass)6 p.m. - Coleman Field (Notre Dame vs. Virginia Tech)
Sunday, March 3rd11 a.m. - Coleman Field (Virginia Tech. vs. Tennessee)11 a.m. - Field 2 (Notre Dame vs. Rhode Island)11 a.m. - Field 3 (Ohio vs. UMass)

–ND–