Trapasso named to Team USA coaching staff

Advertiser Staff

University of Hawai'i baseball coach Mike Trapasso will serve as one of the assistant coaches on the 2004 USA Baseball National Team that will represent the United States at the II FISU World University Baseball Championships in Chinese Taipei on July 22-Aug. 1.

Trapasso will assist Team USA Field Manager Frank Cruz, who coaches at Loyola Marymount University. The other assistants are Jack Smitheran of UC Riverside and Elliott Avent of North Carolina State.

"These coaches each have a unique background and all three have been a part of college baseball at its highest level," said Eric Campbell, USA Baseball General Manager of National Teams. "We are very fortunate to have their help this summer as we try to capture the collegiate level World Championship."

Trapasso was a member of the USA Baseball Team that traveled to Japan for the 1983 USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Series. The left-handed Trapasso appeared in one game working two innings of relief, as Japan won the series 4 games to 3. Trapasso was also named a 1982 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Finalist while at Jefferson Junior College in Missouri.

USA Baseball will invite 36 of the nation's top freshman and sophomore collegiate players to the USA Baseball National Team Trials in Durham, N.C. After the team is selected, Cruz will guide Team USA though their second summer of play at their new headquarters in the North Carolina Triangle Region.