University of Hawai'i head coach Mike Trapasso, the pitching for coach Team USA, heard it all.

"He told them, 'It's not about you. It's about your country,' " Trapasso recalled. "You could tell that the players were really locked in."

Trapasso returned Tuesday after a little more than a month coaching a team made up of college freshmen and sophomores. Team USA went a disappointing 10-7 in exhibition games against Japan, Canada and teams in the U.S. to prepare for the World University Games. It was threatening to become the worst-performing national team, as none had ever won fewer than 61 percent of its games. Team USA finished 18-7 (.642).

"It's the most rewarding thing I've ever experienced in my career," Trapasso said.

Trapasso said it was imperative for the U.S. to win because the Americans did not qualify for the Summer Olympics. The U.S. Olympic team was made up of professional players.

"This was a significant summer for USA Baseball," Trapasso said. "Losing the bid to the Olympics, we had to represent American baseball the right way."

Now, it's back to work for Trapasso. He needs to find a replacement for hitting coach Brian Green, who left to become an assistant at UCLA. Trapasso expects to have a successor within 10 days.

Trapasso also is tracking players picked in the June draft. Waiakea High left-hander Myles Ioane (Kansas City, 24th round), redshirt right-hander Colby Summer (Boston, 38th round) and JC transfer catcher Esteban Lopez (Philadelphia, 48th round) are still being wooed by teams that picked them. Classes start Aug. 23. Of the three, Ioane would have to wait until after his junior season to be eligible for the draft. Summer and Lopez can get drafted again in June.

Summer, who has missed the past two seasons with an elbow injury that led to Tommy John surgery, is pitching in a summer league in Oregon, where he is being monitored by the Red Sox.