University of Houston Athletics
Seth Romero Invited to Join Team USA
6/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
HOUSTON - Houston Baseball freshman Seth Romero has accepted an invitation to join the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team this summer.
The southpaw will join the nation's elite as a training camp invitee with a chance to make the final 24-man roster, announced on June 25.
The West Columbia, Texas native follows in junior Jake Lemoine's footsteps as Houston has now produced back-to-back years with a Cougar affiliated with the Collegiate National Team. Prior to Lemoine's stint last summer, there had not been a Cougar represent Team USA since Michael Bourn in 2006.
"We are very excited that we will have another Cougar invited to participate with Team USA for a second straight season," head coach Todd Whitting said. "Seth is very deserving as of he is one of the top players in the country. He will be a tremendous representative for Houston Baseball."
Romero had one of the most prolific freshman campaigns in program history; being tabbed a Freshman All-American and being named the American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year and a Second Team All-Conference selection after finishing the 2015 season with the league's best ERA at 1.94.
Romero went 7-4 with a team-high seven saves in 22 appearances and eight starts, while tossing one complete game and two combined shutouts. He fanned 92 hitters in 83.1 innings. He managed to hold opposing hitters to a low .201 average.
Romero lasted at least 6.0 innings and struck out at least six in seven of his eight starts, while fanning a career-high nine, twice, vs. Rice (March 17) and at USF (April 26). For his nine-strikeout performance and win in his first career start vs. Rice, he was tabbed the Silver Glove Series MVP.
He earned his first career win in a 5.1-inning relief performance vs. Hawaii on March 8 at the Houston College Classic at Minute Maid Park. His first career save came in the second game of the season, after tossing 4.0 shutout innings out of the bullpen vs. Minnesota on Feb. 14.
Romero earned a win and save in a road series victory at USF en route to being named the league's Pitcher of the Week.
He finished the season with one of the most dominating NCAA postseason performances in program history, tossing a no-hitter into the eighth inning vs. Louisiana-Lafayette. In that game, he finished with a 1-hitter in 8.0 innings, while fanning eight. For that, he was named to the NCAA Houston Regional All-Tournament Team.
Romero becomes the sixth Cougar all-time to represent for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team.
Joining Lemoine as members of a USA Baseball Team from Houston were Michael Bourn (2006 -- Olympic), Rob Johnson (2005 -- World Cup), Jesse Crain (2003 -- Olympic), Brad Sullivan (2002 -- Collegiate), Chris Snyder (2001 -- Collegiate), Shane Nance (1999 -- Collegiate), Kyle Crowell (1999 -- Collegiate), Shane Nance (1998 -- Collegiate), while current Houston assistant coach Trip Couch was a part of the Collegiate National Team coaching staff in 1999.
The Collegiate National Team reports to Cary, N.C. on June 18 before playing in its first game against the Holly Spring Salamanders of the Coastal Plain League on June 20.
The summer features a 17-game schedule from June 20-July 8, including series against the national teams from Chinese Taipei and Cuba. All 17 games will be played in the U.S with the summer finale being played at the Americas Baseball Festival at the National Training Complex in Cary, N.C.
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