Sept. 13, 2005
Former Notre Dame baseball players Chris Michalak and Brant Ust have helped the United States National Team open play at the first-ever Baseball World Cup with a 6-2 round-robin record in the nine-team Group B, clinching a spot in the medal round. The United States finished tied with Nicaragua and Puerto Rico for second place in the group but ended up as the Group A’s 4th-seed in the medal round, based on the tiebreaker for total runs allowed.
(Note: see the main baseball page at und.com – http://und.collegesports.com/sports/m-basebl/nd-m-basebl-body.html – for a wide photo of Michalak and Ust from the World Cup.)
The U.S. posted wins over Columbia (12-1), Australia (6-4), Spain (11-1) and Puerto Rico (12-6) before losing to Nicaragua (12-4) and group leader Japan (7-6). A 7-3 win over the Czech Republic then clinched a spot in the medal round, followed by a 5-4 win over Taiwan in the final game of group play.
The World Cup is an 18-nation tournament being contested at various cities in The Netherlands, with teams comprised of professional players who are not currently members of Major League 40-man rosters. The 24-player U.S. roster includes 14 former college players, led by two each from Notre Dame and Dallas Baptist. Michalak currently pitches for the triple-A Tucson Sidewinders (an affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks) while Ust is a member of the Wilmington (N.C.) Blue Rocks, a single-A team in the Boston Red Sox organization.
The Americans now face a tall order as they will battle Group A champion Cuba (8-0) in the quarterfinals on Sept. 14, in Rotterdam (7:00 p.m. local time/noon in South Bend). The winner of that game then will face the Nicaragua-Panama winner in the first semifinal on Sept. 16 (7:00 p.m., in Rotterdam) while the loser of the USA-Cuba game must return to Rotterdam on the 15th to face the Nicaragua-Panama loser in a placement game.
Team USA has not defeated Cuba in a World Cup game since 1970 and lost its previous World Cup meeting vs. Cuba, 5-3 in the 2001 gold-medal game. Cuba is the nine-time defending champion of the tournament and won the 2004 Olympic title.
The 7th-place game will be played on Sept. 16 (1:00, in Rotterdam) while the 5th-place game will be at the same time in Haarlem. The bronze-medal game is slated for Sept. 17 in Haarlem (1:00), with the gold-medal matchup set for Sept. 17 in Rotterdam (7:00). The other quarterfinal matchups include Japan vs. Korea and the Netherlands vs. Puerto Rico.
Michalak – a top lefthander with the Irish from 1990-93 – picked up the win over Puerto Rico, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out three in five innings as the game-four starter. He then had no-decision after a similar outing vs. Taiwan, allowing three runs on six hits in 5.1 innings of work (3 BB, 2 Ks). Michalak also picked off three Taiwan runners at first base and his two-game stats now include a 5.23 ERA, 5 Ks, 5 BB and 11 hits allowed in 10.1 innings (he likely now will pitch out of the bullpen in the medal round).
Brant Ust – currently a member of the Boston Red Sox system – has started five games at second base for Team USA and shares the team RBI lead (7).
|
 |
Ust is in his second stint with USA Baseball, after playing for the 1998 Junior National Team. He has started five games at second base in the World Cup, batting 4-for-19 while sharing the team lead with seven RBI and a home run. A 1998 All-America third baseman at Notre Dame, Ust also has scored two runs and has drawn a walk in World Cup play, with four strikeouts, one time caught stealing, a pair of strikeouts and just one error in 20 fielding chances.
The win over Spain featured a two-run single and solo home run from Ust, who collected another RBI in that game before adding two RBI to help Michalak pick up the win over Puerto Rice. Ust also played in the narrow loss to Japan (1-for-3) and batted 1-for-4 with an RBI in the win over the Czech Republic that helped clinch a spot in the medal round. He went 0-for-4 (2 Ks) in the win over Taiwan.
Team USA is being managed by former big-league manager Davey Johnson while the tournament features several players (on various teams) who previously have played in the Major Leagues.
Chris Michalak currently is a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks triple-A affiliate, the Tucson Sidewinders.
|
|
For daily coverage from the World Cup, see www.usabaseball.com or www.wkhonkbal.nl/index.php?taal=eng. Here are notes on the first six U.S. games at the World Cup (Michalak and Ust bio. notes also follow below, as does the Team USA roster):
USA 12, COLUMBIA 1 (Sept. 4; Eindhoven) – game MVP Bryan LaHair (4-for-4, 4 RBI) led the offensive while Brian Bannister (1 R, 3 H, 6 IP) picked up the win in a game that ended early based on the run-rule … the U.S. opened with a double from Lastings Milledge, Mike Cervenak’s RBI single and RBI doubles from LaHair, Chris Latham and Jeff Deardorff (Brooks Badeaux capped the big start with an RBI single) … Lahair added an RBI single in the 2nd inning and Cervenak later his a 2-run blast for the 12-0 lead … John Siliva took the loss (9 ER, 10 H, 3 IP).
Brant Ust – an All-America infielder with the Irish in the late 1990s – had a 2-run sngle and solo home run as part of his 4-RBI game vs. Spain.
|
|
USA 6, AUSTRALIA 4 (Sept. 5; Haarlem) – Rob Johnson’s 2-run home run capped a 3-run rally in the top of the 8th as Team USA held on for its second win of the World Cup … Tally Haines picked up the win in relief (1.2 IP, 1 H, K) while Chris Mobley retired the side in the 9th for the save … LaHair hit a solo home run in the 2nd for the early lead, adding another solo shot in the 4th for a 2-1 lead … a throwing error on a potential double-play ball helped Australia tie the game in the 4th (2-2) … Deardorff put the USA back in front with a solo blast in the 7th but Australia came right back with two runs, taking a 4–3 lead on an RBI triple from Trent Oeltjen and a wild pitch … Latham came through in the 8th with an RBI double down the leftfield line (4-4) and Johnson followed with his two-run shot to left-center … Australian reliever Adrian Burnside was charged with the loss (0.2 IP, 2 R) … Johnson, who was named the game MVP, threw out two attempted basestealers … USA starter Jason Jacome had no-decision (5.2 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 4 BB, 2 Ks).
USA 11, SPAIN 1 (Sept. 6; Amsterdam) – Ust’s 2-for-4 game (4 RBI, R) included a 2-run single that pushed the U.S. to a 6-1 lead in the bottom of the 5th and he later belted a solo home run that yielded a 10-1 lead … Jared Well struck out nine batters over six innings to pick up the win (UER, 4 H) while the U.S. capped the win with three straight home runs in the bottom of the 7th … the win sent Team USA atop the Pool B standings, with Pool-A teams Cuba and the Netherlands representing the only other unbeatens … Milledge put the U.S. on the board with a solo home run in the 1st … Deardorff later added a 4th-inning RBI double to the left-center gap (following a standout double by Josh Phelps) and Brian Peterson followed with an RBI single to center … 7th-inning home runs from Ust, Milledge and Ben Zobrist ended the game based on the mercy rule … a throwing error led to Spain’s only run (unearned) of the game … Milledge had an earlier solo home run while Cervenak also hit a solo shot (in the 6th) … Manuel Olivera was tagged with the loss (6 R, 7 H, 5 BB)
Chris Michalak has logged a pair of solid starts at the 2005 Baseball World Cup.
|
|
USA 12, PUERTO RICO 6 (Sept. 7; Haarlem) – Michalak picked up the win after tossing five solid innings (3 R, 5 H, 2 BB, 3 Ks, 77 pitches) while Ust added a pair of RBI (0-for-4, R, BB, 0-1 SB) … Latham (game MVP) and Johnson led the U.S. with four RBI each, as the Americans stayed atop Group B with a 4-0 record … Latham opened the game with a grand slam, giving the U.S. 11 home runs in the World Cup … Puerto Rico cut the lead to 4-3 in the 5th, behind Jose Leon’s solo home run, a single by former major leaguer Angel Echevarria and Hector Kuilan’s 2-run shot … Johnson delivered a bases-clearing double in the 6th and a fielding error then allowed Johnson to score for an 8-3 cushion … reliever Mark Freed entered in the 6th but Puerto Rico loaded the bases before Mark Bauer took the mound and included Kuilan into a double play … Puerto Rico used another 2-run blast to cut into the lead (8-6) but the Americans regained some breathing room on Zobrist’s RBI double into the left-center gap and a wild pitch that brought home Milledge … Josue Matos took the loss for Puerto Rico (5.1 IP, 8 R, 6 H).
NICARAGUA 14, USA 2 (Sept. 9; Rotterdam) – Oswaldo Mairena pitched 6.2 shutout innings (7 H, 5 Ks) and Jenrry Roa went 4-for-5 to help hand the U.S. its first loss of the World Cup … Nicaragua claimed an early 1-0 lead after doubles from Ronald Garth and Jenrry Roa … former major leaguer Marvin Bernard later doubled and scored on a passed ball for a 2-0 lead in the 3rd … Nicaragua broke the game open with a 4-run 4th that chased the starter Bannister (3.2 IP, 6 R, 8 H) … reliever Jason Phillips then walked his first batter and gave up a bases-loaded single by Roa … Milledge ended the U.S. scoring drought with his third home run of the tournament, a 2-run blast to left in the 7th … the loss dropped the U.S. into a tie with Japan for 2nd in Pool B … the game marked the first time that the U.S. did not open the scoring … Zobrist and Cervenak extended their hitting streaks to five games.
JAPAN 7, USA 6 (Sept. 10; Almere) – Ust drew his third start of the World Cup, batting 1-for-3 (2 Ks) … Yasuyuki Saigo punched out four RBI in his final two at-bats to lead Japan to the comeback win, dropping the U.S. into 4th place in Pool B (4-2) … Tsutomu Takanezawa’s home run gave Japan a 1-0 lead in the 2nd, with a failed pickoff throw leading to another run for Japan in the 4th … Zobrist’s 1-out single and Cervenak’s third home run of the tournament tied the game moments later … Japan came right back to retake the lead (3-2) on Daisuke Kusano’s 2-out blast in the 5th … the U.S. had its answer in the 6th, as Phelps singled to score Zobrist and Dee Brown stroked a 2-run, bases-loaded single into left field for the 5-3 U.S. lead (a passed ball then added to the lead) … Haines entered in the 7th and gave up a pair of singles before Yasuyuki Saigo tied the game with a 3-run home run (6-6) … Mobley was charged with the loss, after giving up a run in the 9th (H, 2 BB) … Hideto Isomura collected his second win of the World Cup (3 IP, UER, H) … Zobrist and Cervenak continued their streaks of hitting in each U.S. game (6) at the World Cup … Jacome was in line for the win (6 IP, 3 R, 7 H, 2 Ks) before seeing Japan rally for the win.
Brant Ust – pictured at the 2005 World Cup – previously played for USA Baseball as a member of the 1998 U.S. Junior National Team, following his sophomore season at Notre Dame.
|
|
USA 7, CZECH REPUBLIC 3 (Sept. 12; Amsterdam) – Zobrist (game MVP) went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI as the U.S. got back on the winning track, helping secure a spot in the medal round … Ust was 1-for-4 with his 7th RBI of the tournament … Deardoff’s sac. fly and Ust’s RBI single produced a 2-0 lead in the 2nd … Phelps added an RBI single in the 3rd, scoring Zobrist (who had singled and stole his third base of the tournament) … the Czechs plated two runs in the 4th, thanks to an RBI groundout from David Winkler and a rundown that allowed Pavel Budsky to score from third base … Cervenak his safely for the seventh straight game, sending an RBI double into the right-center gap while Deardorff followed with an RBI single for a 5-2 lead … Wells earned the win despite allowing six walks (5 IP, 2 R, 2 H) … Radek Prochazka took the loss (3 IP, 3 R) … the win, coupled with Taiwan’s loss to Nicaragua, secured the U.S. spot in the medal round … it marked the first time in seven World Cup games that the U.S. failed to hit a home run … Cervenak joined Zobrist in hitting safely for the seventh straight game.
USA 5, TAIWAN 4 (Sept. 13; Haarlem) – Michalak had no decision after logging 5.1 solid innings (3 H, 6 H, 3 BB, 2 Ks, 85 pitches, 3 pickoffs) … Milledge provided the winning RBI single in the top of the 9th … Taiwan had scored first on a solo home run by Sheng Wei Wang, putting the U.S. in an early hole for the third time in the past four games … Michalak and Sung Wei waged a pitchers’ duel over the next four innings before the U.S. erupted with four runs in the 6th … consecutive doubles by Cervenak and Brown led to the first run while a pair of errors helped the Americans claim their 4-1 lead … Taiwan answered in the bottom of the 6th, sparked by Kuo Hui Lo’s 2-run homer … Greg Bauer than came out of the bullpen to stop the rally and maintain the 4-3 lead … Taiwan tied the game in the 7th, on a solo shot by 9-hole hitter Ying Chieh Liao … James Garcia picked up the win (1.0 P, H, K) while Gilbert De la vara earned the save, after facing one batter in the 9th … Zobrist did not play due to a nagging leg injury … Cervenak hit a 2-out double in the 1st, extending his hitting streak that has included all eight of the USA’s games of the World Cup … four of the Taiwan players are on current minor-league rosters: Po-Hsuan Keng and Chi-Hung Cheng (both with Lansing Lugnuts/Blue Jays), Yung-Chi Chen,(Wisconsin Timber Rattlers/Seattle Mariners) and Chin-Lung Hu (Vero Beach Dodgers).
Chris Michalak posted a 3.21 career ERA at Notre Dame while setting Irish records for career appearances (92, now 2nd), wins (34, now 3rd), saves (12, now 4th) and innings (372.2, now 3rd).
|
|
CHRIS MICHALAK CAREER NOTES – his 13-year pro baseball career includes playing parts of three seasons with Major League teams (Arizona Diamondbacks in ’98, Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays in ’01, and Rangers in ’02) while playing for minor-league teams of 10 different Major League organizations … his career MLB stats include a 4.66 ERA and 8-11 record in 53 GP/18 GS (SV, 156.1 IP, 186 H, 77 Ks, 69 BB) … selected by Oakland A’s in 15th round of ’92 draft and again in ’93 (12th round), going on to play from 1993-96 in the A’s organization (with Southern Oregon, West Michigan, Modesto and Huntsville) … later played with High Desert in ’97 (Diamondbacks), Tulsa in ’98 (Rangers), Tucson in ’98 and ’99 (D’backs), Durham (Devil Days) and Albuquerque (Dodgers) in ’00, Pawtucket (Red Sox) and Oklahoma (Rangers) in ’02, Colorado Springs (Rockies) and Louisville (Reds) in ’03, Indianapolis (Brewers) and Albuquerque (Marlins) in ’04 and currently back with Tucson in ’05 (4.47, 9-13, 165 IP, 74 Ks,42 BB, 174 H, 26 GP/25 GS) … helped ND emerge as a national power in early 1990s, with the Irish compiling a 185-59 record from 1990-93 while coming just shy of the College World Series in ’92 and again in ’93 … named to the NCAA Regional all-tournament team in 1993, after batting 8-for-18 (as a fill-in at first base) while beating host Florida State with a gutsy complete game in an elimination matchup (4-3; 9 H, 1 BB, 6 Ks) … joined by recent pitchers Aaron Heilman and J.P. Gagne as only ND hurlers ever to post 20-plus wins (34) and double-digit saves (12) in their careers … left Notre Dame with team record for career appearances (92, now 2nd), innings pitched (372.2, now 3rd), wins (34-13, now 3rd) and saves (12, now 4th) … also ended his career ranked 2nd in ND record book with 263 career Ks (now 5th), 3rd with 43 starts (now 8th) and 4th with 20 complete games (now 6th) … shares the ND record for career shutouts (7) with two early-1900s pitchers … compiled a 3.21 career ERA with the Irish … his 28 appearances as a freshman in 1990 ranked 3rd in the ND record book (now 7th), as did his 6 saves (now 8th) … led ’91 team with a 2.47 ERA while posting 9-1 record … his impressive junior season in ’92 included team bests in ERA (2.20) and wins (10-5) … logged 118.2 inning in ’92 (still 2nd-best in ND history) while making 16 starts (3rd/now 5th) and registering 8 complete games (5th/now 7th) … held ’92 opponents to .205 batting avg. (now 7th-best in ND record book, dating back to ’91) … nearly matched his innings total in ’93 (117.1; 3rd in ND history) while going 11-5 (2nd/now 4th) with 10 CGs (2nd/now 3rd) … still holds ND record for most innings pitched per home runs allowed (87.1, in ’91) and most innings without a wild pitch (118.2, in ’92) … native of Joliet, Ill.
Brant Ust remains Notre Dame’s all-time leader in career slugging pct. (.676), also now ranking 2nd in career home runs (46), 3rd in consecutive games played (179), 5th in career batting avg. (.368), 7th in doubles (51) and 9th in RBI (170).
|
|
BRANT UST CAREER NOTES – played fist six seasons of pro ball in the Detroit Tigers organization (after being picked in 6th round of ’99 MLB draft), with Oneanto (’99), Jacksonville (’00), GCL (’01), Erie (’01-’03), Lakeland (’02) and Toledo (’03-’04) … his career stats in pro ball include 660 hits, 305 runs, 140 doubles, 17 triples, 62 home runs, 315 RBI, 23-40 SB, 170 walks … playing this season with the Boston Red Sox affiliate Wilmington (N.C. Blue Rocks), batting .262 with 13 home runs and 71 RBI (116-for-443, 54 R, 20 2B, 27 BB) … one of five ND players since 1948 to lead team in batting avg., RBI and HRs during same season, collecting All-America and BIG EAST player-of-the-year honors in 1998 (.373, 58 RBI, 18 HR, plus 20 2B and 11 SB) … earned all-BIG EAST honors in each of his three seasons, as a second baseball in ’97, a third baseman in ’98 and a shortstop in ’99 … still holds the ND record for career slugging pct. (.676) while ranking 2nd with 46 home runs (behind Jeff Wagner’s four-year total of 49) … also ended his career ranked 2nd in ND record book with 179 consecutive games played (now 3rd), plus 3rd with 446 total bases (now 5th), 4th with a .368 career batting avg. (now 5th), 4th with 51 doubles (now 7th), 6th with 243 hits (now 12th), 7th with 170 RBI (now 9th) and 7th with 174 runs (now 11th) … turned in an historic game at Seton Hall on April 25, 1998, homering vs. three different SHU pitchers while collecting 5 RBI and scoring 5 runs … one of eight ND players ever to post a 3-HR game (he current owns a share of 3rd place for most runs and RBI in a game) … his 18 HRs in ’98 remain 2nd in the ND record book while his .724 slugging pct. that season ranks 6th all-time (his 150 total bases in ’99 now rank 8th on the ND single-season charts) … helped ND compiled a 125-54 record from 1997-99 … native of Redmond, Wash.
Brant Ust.
|
|
2005 USA BASEBALL WORLD CUP TEAM
Player – Pos, Ht/Wt, B/T, DOB … 05 Team (Org) … Hometown/College
Brooks Badeaux – IF, 5-10/177, B/R, 10-20-76 … AAA Durham/Devil Rays … Scott, LA/Florida State
Brian Bannister, RHP, 6-1/205, R/R, 2-28-81 … AAA Norfolk/Mets … Paradise Valley, AZ/USC
Dee Brown – OF, 6-0/215, L/R, 3-27-78 … AAA New Orleans/Nationals … Orlando, FL
Greg Bauer – RHP, 6-2/206, R/R, 11-30-77 … AA Reading/Phillies … Tulsa, OK/Wichita State
Mike Cervenak – IF, 5-11/200, R/R, 8-17-76 … AAA Fresno/Giants … New Boston, MI/Michigan
Gilbert De la vara – LHP, 5-11/160, L/L, 10-4-84 … AZL Royals/Royals … Tucson, AZ
Jeff Deardorff – IF/OF, 6-3/220, R/R, 8-14-78 … AAA Durham/Devil Rays … Clermont, FL
Mark Freed – LHP, 6-4/226, L/L, 8-10-78 … AAA Tucson/Diamondbacks … Pennsville, NJ
James Garcia – RHP, 6-2/210, R/R, 2-3-80 … AA Norwich/Giants … Torrance, CA
Talley Haines – RHP, 6-5/205, R/R, 11-16-76 … AAA Iowa/Cubs … Jackson, MO/Freed-Hardeman
Jason Jacome – LHP, 6-0/209, L/L, 11-24-70 … Mexico/Puebla … Tucson, AZ/Pima JC
Rob Johnson – C, 6-1/200, R/R, 7-22-83 … A Inland Empire/Mariners … Houston, TX
Bryan LaHair – IF, 6-5/215, L/R, 11-15-82 … A Inland Empire/Mariners … Worchester, MA/St. Petersburg JC
Chris Latham – OF, 6-0/195, B/R, 5-26-73 … Independent (Bridgeport) … Las Vegas, NV
Chris Michalak – LHP, 6-2/195, L/L, 1-4-71 … AAA Tucson/Diamondbacks … Keller, TX (orig. Joliet, IL)/Notre Dame
Lastings Milledge – OF, 6-1/185, R/R, 4-5-85 … AA Binghamton/Mets … Palmetto, FL
Chris Mobley – RHP, 5-11/171, R/R, 8-16-83 … A Greensboro/Marlins … Kingsport, TN/Middle Tennessee State
Brian Peterson – C, 6-2/225, R/R, 10-22-78 … AA Chattanooga/Reds … Flower Mound, TX/San Diego State
Josh Phelps – IF, 6-3/225, R/R, 5-12-78 … AAA Durham/Devil Rays … Rathdrum, ID
Jason Phillips – RHP, 6-6/235, R/R, 3-22-74 … AAA Durham/Devil Rays … Montoursville, PA
J.J. Trujillo – RHP, 6-0/180, R/R, 10-9-75 … Independent (Coastal Bend) … Corpus Christi, TX/Dallas Baptist
Brant Ust – IF/OF, 6-2/200, R/R, 7-17-78 … A Wilmington/Red Sox … Redmond, WA/Notre Dame
Jared Wells – RHP, 6-4/200, R/R, 10-31-81 … AA Mobile/Padres … Brazoria, TX/North Dakota
Ben Zobrist – IF, 6-3/200, B/R, 5-26-81 … A Salem/Astros … Eureka, IL/Dallas Baptist
Brant Ust strikes a pose during his first stint wih USA Bseball, as a member of the 1998 Junior National Team.
|
|
Coaching Staff – manager Dave Johnson, bench coach Rick Eckstein (A Vermont/Nationals), hitting coach Lee May Jr. (R Burlington/Indians), pitching coach Scott Radinsky (A Lake County/Indians)