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SnowBlue team players, including Matt White (center), arrive at Joe Becker Stadium.Matt Whitelone veterantrials playerBy Rod ShetlerGlobe Sports WriterIt was just another day in the baseball spotlight forMatt White.As he worked on drills with his teammates on the Blue squad at the USA Baseball Junior Team Trials, all eyes at Joe Becker Stadium were on the 6-foot-5 flame-thrower, who has become one of the most highly regarded high school pitchers ever.Scouts say he’s got the size, the stuff and thesmarts.His name was even tossed around by some as a player who could potentially be the first high school right-hander ever selected No. 1 in the amateur draft’s 31-year history.But for all his accomplishments, all the awards and all the publicity, White is still a 17-year-old who simply loves the game.When White turned down the San FranciscoGiants offer after they made him No. 7 during theamateur draft, it let him return to this week’s USAjunior trials. If selected to the USA team, he will bethe only player returning to the junior team from lastyear’s gold medal winning squad at the World Junior Championship.White’s highlights from last year’s USA junior team experience include a seven-inning no-hitteragainst Italy in his first outing with the team.“I think I can bring a lot of leadership to this ciub ” said White. “I’ve gone through a lot this year with the draft and just playing my senior season with all the scouts around. After dealing with that pressure, I think I can calm some of the nerves on this team ”Globe/CharlesMatt White, backed by several Blue teammates, takes the mound at Joe Becker — -----......- ----National recognition for White has become ascommonplace as blowing fastballs past shell-shocked batters.White has been named to practically every All-American team that has been created. He was chosen as the National Gatorade Player of the Year and a Mizuno Top 100 player. He was Baseball America’s No. 1 high school prospect among their Top 100 list and the magazine’s player of the year. Baseball scouts speak at length about White’saccomplishments.He has a fastball clocked in the mid-90s which he compliments with an above-average slider and changeup. This season, he broke Waynesboro (Pa) High School records in strikeout records for a game (20), strikeouts for a season (145) and strikeouts for a career (385). His 27 career wins and 0.53 ERA were also records at the high school.Trials scheduleSee White, Page 5BToday’s Events At Joe Becker Stadium10:30 a.m.—Blue teampractice12:30 p.m.—Red team practice2:30 p.m.—White team practiceWednesday’s EventsMorn i ng—practicesNoon—White vs. Joplin Legion4 p.m.—Blue vs. Carl Junction Legion7 p.m.—Red vs. Baxter Springs Legion
Newspaper Details
Joplin Globe
Joplin, Missouri, US
Tue, Jul 23, 1996
Page 10
Full Page
Clipped by
Gordon L.
USA 25 Apr 2022
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