The University of Mississippi Athletics
Wahl Named To USA Baseball National Collegiate Team
4/26/2012 | Baseball
April 26, 2012
OXFORD, Miss. - Sophomore right-hander Bobby Wahl has been selected to play for the USA National Collegiate Baseball team this summer, it was announced by USA Baseball on Thursday.
Wahl becomes the most recent in a long tradition of players who have competed with USA Baseball during the Mike Bianco era at Ole Miss. He is the seventh player in the past 12 seasons to go on to compete with the organization's national team, joining former Rebels Seth Smith, Stephen Head, Zack Cozart, Lance Lynn, Cody Satterwhite and Drew Pomeranz in selection to the squad.
The right-hander is currently one of seven players named to the 22-man roster, three of whom hail from the Southeastern Conference. Also on the squad currently are outfielder Austin Cousino from Kentucky and right-hander Ryne Stanek from Arkansas.
"It's a huge honor and I'm very excited about it," Wahl said of his selection. "It's an opportunity to play baseball and compete internationally with some of the best baseball players in the country. When I found out about the selection I was really surprised and honored. I can't wait."
"Obviously we're very proud of Bobby," said Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco. "It's an honor we feel he deserves. He's had a great year. It's going to be a terrific experience for him and one that many kids dream about - to be able to go out and compete in the great game of baseball with 'USA' across your chest and representing your country."
Wahl holds a 5-0 record for the Rebels this season as the Friday night starter and leads the squad with a 2.15 ERA through 10 games. In his 54.1 innings of work, the right-hander has struck out 60 batters and walked 21 while holding opponents to a .213 batting average. His 2.15 ERA is third in the Southeastern Conference to date.
A native of Springfield, Va., Wahl has combined for three shutouts this season and picked up wins over No. 10 TCU, UNC-Wilmington, Houston, Auburn and No. 1 Florida. He has taken no decision on five occasions, but left the game with the Rebels holding to the lead against No. 1 Kentucky, No. 15 Arkansas and Georgia.
USA Baseball selects its Collegiate National Team based on the same process as its Professional Team. Twenty-two players are selected from a pool of college players based on evaluation of their performance in the 2012 season by a committee comprised of the current National Team manager, three coaches and one former USA Baseball National Team member.
The USA National Team will gather on June 23, 2012 with competition beginning on June 25. The squad will compete against Minor League teams before heading to international competition in Cuba and The Netherlands in July.
Ole Miss and Wahl will be back in action this weekend with a three-game series at Mississippi State that begins at 7 p.m. on Friday night and will be televised by SportSouth.
