Wilkins named to USA team

FAYETTEVILLE – Sophomore Andy Wilkins was named to the USA National (Collegiate) Team late Wednesday night it was announced by USA Baseball.

A late addition to the team trials because of Arkansas’ run at the College World Series, Wilkins joined the tryouts on Monday and made an immediate impact by going 2-5 in his first appearance with a run scored and RBI. Wilkins added another run in Tuesday’s session after reaching base via a walk and following Wednesday’s contest was selected as one of 22 players on the national team.

Wilkins is one of five infielders on the squad joining shortstop/second baseman Christian Colon of Cal St. Fullerton, shortstop Rick Hague of Rice, middle infielder Brad Miller of Clemson and utility player Kolten Wong of Hawaii. The team also consists of five outfielders, two catchers and 10 pitchers.

The USA Baseball National Team now embarks on an ambitious 27-game schedule over 32 days which starts in North Carolina, moves to the Northeast in New Hampshire and Massachusetts before going global with games in Japan and Canada. Team USA’s first competition pits it against Team Canada in Cary, N.C. on Thursday, June 25. After five games with its neighbor from the north, Team USA then plays Guatemala in North Carolina before showcasing its talents up north. The schedule then moves to Japan for five games across the country before wrapping up at the World Baseball Challenge in Prince George, British Columbia, July 19-26.

Wilkins was a force for the Razorbacks this spring, anchoring the middle of the order. He led the Razorbacks in five offensive categories including batting average, doubles, home runs, total bases and RBI. His 19 home runs this season rank tied for fourth on Arkansas’ all-time single season charts and his 150 total bases and 37 extra-base hits rank 10th on the same charts. Wilkins was also second on the team in walks in 2009 with 48, a total that ranks eighth all-time. Wilkins is also starting to climb up Arkansas’ career charts as he ranks fifth in career slugging percentage at .620

For more information regarding Razorback baseball or University of Arkansas athletics please visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.

2009 USA Baseball National Team (Collegiate) Schedule
June 25 vs. Canada Cary, N.C 7:00 p.m.
June 26 vs. Canada Durham, N.C. 7:05 p.m.
June 27 vs. Canada Durham, N.C. 7:05 p.m.
June 28 vs. Canada Durham, N.C. 5:05 p.m.
June 29 vs. Canada Cary, N.C 7:30 p.m.
June 30 vs. TBD TBD TBD
July 1 vs. Guatemala Kannapolis, N.C. 7:05 p.m.
July 2 vs. Guatemala Cary, N.C 7:00 p.m.
July 3 vs. Guatemala Cary, N.C 6:30 p.m.
July 4 vs. Guatemala Durham, N.C. 6:05 p.m.
July 5 vs. NECBL All-Stars Manchester, N.H. 2:45 p.m.
July 6 vs. Holyoke Holyoke, Mass. TBD
July 7 vs. North Shore Navigators Lynn, Mass. TBD
July 10 vs. Kokusai Budo University Tokyo, Japan TBD
37th USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Championship
July 11 vs. Japan Matsuyama, Japan 11:00 p.m.
July 13 vs. Japan Tokyo, Japan 4:00 a.m.
July 14 vs. Japan Sendai, Japan 4:00 a.m.
July 15 vs. Japan Tsuruoka, Japan 4:00 a.m.
July 16 vs. Japan Tokyo, Japan 4:00 a.m.
World Baseball Challenge
July 19 vs. Canada Prince Georgia, British Columbia 7:00 p.m.
July 20 vs. Bahamas Prince Georgia, British Columbia 8:00 p.m.
July 21 vs. USA-Reno Prince Georgia, British Columbia 8:00 p.m.
July 22 vs. Prince George Axeman Prince Georgia, British Columbia 11:00 p.m.
July 23 vs. Chinese Taipei Prince Georgia, British Columbia 11:00 p.m.
July 24 vs. Beijing Tigers Prince Georgia, British Columbia 5:00 p.m.
July 25 vs. Germany Prince Georgia, British Columbia 4:00 p.m.
July 26 World Baseball Challenge Finals Prince Georgia, British Columbia TBD