June 24, 2008

DURHAM, N.C. - University of California sophomore right fielder/right-handed pitcher Blake Smith has been named one of 20 players who will compete for the USA Baseball National (Collegiate) Team this summer, it was announced June 24 by the national team office in Durham, N.C. Smith has earned a spot on this summer's national team that will host a six-game friendship series against Chinese Taipei, June 25-30, and a month-long trip to Europe where the team will compete in the Haarlem Baseball Week in the Netherlands and the IV FISU World Collegiate Baseball Championship in the Czech Republic.

During a 12-game preseason schedule from June 12-23, Smith batted .348 (8-for-23) with three doubles, a home run and three RBI. On the mound as a reliever, he was 0-0 with a 2.45 ERA and a save, striking out eight batters in 3.2 innings.

During this past spring, Smith batted .296 with 11 doubles, two triples, 12 home runs and 43 RBI for the Golden Bears (33-21-2). On the mound, he was 3-0 with a 3.80 ERA and had 36 strikeouts in 21.1 innings. Smith also threw two runners out at the plate from right field during the year and hit a two-run homer against Long Beach State at the NCAA Regional in Long Beach.

Smith is the second Bears in the past two summers to play for the USA National Team. Last summer standout right-hander Tyson Ross was 4-1 with a 0.82 ERA for Team USA.