Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboy Duo Named To USA Baseball National Team
June 24, 2008 | Cowboy Baseball
The Cowboy hurlers are two of the 20 players on the '08 National Team roster. OSU is one of just three schools, along with Cal State-Fullerton and Miami (Fla.), to have two players named to the team.
The National Team roster, which will add two players later this week, was selected following a two-week trials period, during which time the trials participants played 10 games and had two intrasquad scrimmages.
Lyons and Oliver, who are coming off successful sophomore seasons for coach Frank Anderson's Cowboys, led the National Trials Team to a 9-3 mark. Lyons made three appearances and was 1-0 with 12 strikeouts while not allowing an earned run in eight innings of work. Oliver also had three outings and racked up 10 strikeouts while compiling a 2.00 ERA in nine innings.
Comprised of the top non-draft-eligible college players in the United States, the National Team will play six games against the Chinese Taipei National Team before traveling to Europe in July to compete in the Haarlem Baseball Week in the Netherlands and at the FISU World Championships in the Czech Republic. Former OSU standout and current Oral Roberts head coach Rob Walton is the head coach of the '08 National Team.
“Even though we are only at 20 players, this team is as ready as any national team in my time to start an international series,” said Eric Campbell, general manager for the USA Baseball National Team. “I credit this readiness to Rob Walton and his staff. We have had a great trials, and this team is eager and ready to play for their country.”
A native of Vermilion, Ohio, Oliver finished his sophomore season at OSU with a 7-2 record and 2.20 ERA in 15 appearances and was a first-team All-Big 12 Conference selection and Rivals.com All-American. He led the Cowboys with 96 strikeouts in 98.1 innings of work, and opponents hit just .211 against him.
Oliver's 2.20 ERA ranked as the third-lowest in the Big 12 in 2008, while his strikeout total was the third highest in the league.
A 6-foot-2, 195 pounder, Lyons is coming off a season in which he earned second-team All-Big 12 Conference honors for the Cowboys. The Lubbock, Texas native was 12-2 with a 3.31 ERA in 15 starts in 2008 and led the Big 12 with 108.2 innings pitched. He tied for the league lead with four complete games, all of which came in conference play.
Lyons, who was also named to the NCAA Stillwater Regional All-Tournament team, racked up 92 strikeouts on the season, and his 12 wins were the eighth-highest single-season total in OSU history. In nine conference starts, Lyons was 7-1 with a 2.99 ERA and led the Cowboys with 63 strikeouts.
Lyons and Oliver are the ninth and 10th OSU players to earn a spot on a Team USA roster, joining Gary Green (1984), Robin Ventura (1988), Jeromy Burnitz (1989), Brad Beanblossom (1989), Matt Smith (1999), Ryan Budde (2000), Jordy Mercer (2007) and Jason Jaramillo (2007).
