May 8, 2008

AUBURN, Ala. - Auburn freshman infielder Hunter Morris has accepted an invitation to USA Baseball's 2008 National Team Trials, it was announced Thursday. Morris is one of the initial 12 players invited to try out for the team, which will be selected as trials are held June 11-23 throughout the northeastern and southeastern parts of the United States.

Morris, a SEC Freshman of the Year candidate, is one of four freshman in the initial 12. Entering this weekend's series at Ole Miss the Huntsville native is hitting .359 with 10 home runs and a team-best 42 RBI. His .614 slugging percentage is second the team while his .442 on-base percentage leads Auburn.

"This is a strong initial group of invitees, and we will continue to work with collegiate coaches to get the best 32 players available into this year's National Team Trials," National Team General Manager Eric Campbell said.

In all, 32 players will be invited to the National Team Trials, with 22 of those players being selected for the National Team roster.

Morris, who played on Team USA's silver medal-winning Junior National Team in the 2006 World Games in Cuba, is the second current Tiger to be invited to try out for a USA Baseball National Team as Jr. OF Mike Bianucci was invited to try out for the 2006 team.

USA Baseball's 2008 National Team schedule includes a six-game friendship series against Chinese Taipei and a month-long trip to Europe where the team will compete in Haarlem Baseball Week in the Netherlands and in the IV FISU World Collegiate Baseball Championship in the Czech Republic.

Auburn Head Coach Tom Slater was an assistant coach on the 2006 Team USA National Team that won Gold at the FISU Games.

Auburn has had four players selected to the team in the past; Gregg Olson in 1987, Mark Bellhorn in 1993 and 1994, John Powell in 1993, and most recently, Steven Register in 2003.