DURHAM, N.C. - Rice's Matt Canterino has been named to the initial USA Baseball 2018 Collegiate National Team roster, with a chance to represent the Owls and his country in the squad's international tour later this summer.
USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team is scheduled to play three international series in 2018, beginning with the 18th USA vs. Chinese Taipei Friendship Series in North Carolina from June 28-July 2. Team USA will then announce a final 24-man roster to compete in the 42nd United States vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Series from July 3-9 in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina; and the 7th Annual USA vs. Cuba International Friendship Series in Cuba from July 13-18.
Canterino posted a 7-5 record and a 3.06 ERA this season while holding opposing hitters to a composite .188 batting average. The Owls' 'Friday night ace' led the team, and tied for 22nd in the nation, with 116 strikeouts in 94.0 innings of work. Originally from Southlake, Texas, Canterino was also 48th in the country with 11.11 strikeouts-per-9.0 innings on the way to first team All-Conference USA , but his success on the field is only part of the story. He was also named to C-USA All-Academic Team for maintaining 3.99 grade point average.
Former Rice All-America and major league draft pick Glenn Otto pitched for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team in the summer of 2016. Canterino and Otto were teammates on the Owl squad that made a historic international tour of Cuba in November of 2016.