The University of Mississippi Athletics
Kris Cox Headed To Canadian National Team Training Camp
11/14/2000 | Baseball
Nov. 14, 2000
OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss junior outfielder Kris Cox has been invited to participate in the tryout camp for Baseball Canada's Senior National Team that will compete in the 2000 America's Qualifying Tournament, Nov. 24-Dec. 3 in Panama City, Panama. The Baseball Canada Senior National Team is the equivalent of the United States' 2000 Olympic Team that captured the gold medal in Sydney, Australia.
Cox is a two-year starter for the Rebels, posting a .314 career hitter with one HR, 31 RBI, and has stole 13 bases in 20 attempts. This past season, Cox played in 50-of-55 games for Ole Miss, starting 33 games in left and 11 in center. He batted .307 with one HR and 19 RBI as the the Rebels' lead-off hitter, and was 11-of-15 in stolen bases.
Cox played for the Chatham Athletics in the Cape Cod League this past summer, finishing seventh in the prestigious wooden bat league with a .304 average. He was also 19-of-24 in stolen bases to help the A's to a berth in the league playoffs, where he batted .462 (7-of-15) in four playoff games.
"It is a great honor for Kris to be considered for the Canadian National Team and possibly represent Canada on the international stage," said first year Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco. "He is someone that is truly deserving of this."
Former pro, college and independent league players are eligible to compete in the America's Qualifying Tournament. Also, pending a Major League Baseball decision, six-year, minor league free agents may also be eligible. Baseball Canada will have 30-to-35 players in its training camp that will start Thursday in Dunedin, Fla., and run conclude next Tuesday. The roster will then be trimmed to 22 players.
The America's Qualifying Tournament will feature such international baseball powerhouses as the United States, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua. The top five countries in the 14-team field will advance to the 2001 World Cup, scheduled to be held in Taiwan from Nov. 7-18, 2001. As defending world champions, Cuba will not attend the America's Qualifying Tournament as they automatically qualify for the World Cup.