June 22, 2002

TUCSON, Ariz. – Notre Dame freshman righthander Grant Johnson (Burr Ridge, Ill.) had a solid outing in Saturday’s intrasquad scrimmage at the USA National Team trials. Johnson allowed two earned runs on six hits and three walks in four innings as the Red team’s starter, with three strikeouts in the Blue’s 4-2 win at Hi Corbett Field.

The 35-player tryout roster will be trimmed to a final 22-man roster on Monday morning. The resulting UA National Team then will play a series of games vs. Japan and various pro teams on the east coast and Midwest, followed by a tournament in the Netherlands and the August 3-11 World Championships in Messina, Italy.

Georgia Tech sophomore lefthander Kyle Bakker picked up the win for the Red team, after holding the Blue to a pair of hits and an unearned run in his four-inning stint. Cal State Fullerton sophomore RHP Chad Cordero logged the final two frames for the Red in the six-inning scrimmage (UER, H, 3 K) while Alabama freshman LHP Taylor Tankersly closed the game for the Blue (4 H, R).

Georgia Tech freshman 2B Eric Patterson (2-for-4, RBI, R, SB) led the Blue offense while Tulane sophomore 1B Michael Aubrey also went 2-for-4 with a run and RBI. South Florida catcher Devin Ivany added two hits and a pair of stolen bases to the Blue attack.

The Red offense managed just three hits, with Cal State Fullerton sophomore OF Nick Costa and LSU sophomore IF Aaron Hill each scoring a run.