Rice’s Hague answers country’s call
Shortstop selected to play for Team USA

FROM RICE ATHLETICS

After an extensive tryout camp, Rice Owls shortstop Rick Hague has earned a spot on the 22-man United States national team for its upcoming monthlong national and international tour.

	Rice Owls shortstop Rick Hague has earned a spot on the 22-man United States national team.

This summer Hague, a Lovett College sophomore, will play for Team USA against the national teams of Japan, Canada, Guatemala, Chinese-Taipei, the Bahamas and Germany. The U.S. national team will also face a team from Beijing as well as selected collegiate summer league teams across America to round out a four-and-a-half-week summer tour.

Hague was invited to try out for Team USA along with 36 of the top college players from across the country. He hit safely in six of the tryout camp’s eight games and had five stolen bases, four RBIs and four runs scored.

Team USA opens play right away with a five-game series against the Canadian National team beginning June 25. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. CDT in Cary, N.C, the home field of Team USA.

After four home games against Guatemala next week, Team USA travels through New England for a series of exhibition games before heading to Japan to participate in the 37th annual USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Series July 11-16. Team USA will also play Kokusai Budo University on the trip overseas. Later in July, Hague will have another high-profile opportunity to represent Rice and his country as Team USA competes in the World Baseball Challenge British Columbia.

Hague had a sensational collegiate season for Rice in 2009. In addition to helping the Owls win the Conference USA Tournament Championship, he was one of only two Rice players to start all 61 games. The standout from Spring and Klein High School batted a steady .319 for the blue and gray and earned second team All-Conference USA on a vote of the league’s head coaches. Hague led the Owls in doubles (17) and shared the team lead in steals (11). He was second on the squad in RBIs (57), finished third in hits (81) and home runs (nine).

Hague is the first Rice player to make Team USA since pitcher Ryan Berry in 2007. He is the first Owl position player to make the national team since Josh Rodriguez (infielder) and Joe Savery (infielder/pitcher) both made the squad in 2005.

More information and a schedule of games can be found on the Rice Athletics site at http://riceowls.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/062509aaa.html.