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Handkerchief Ohji is Coming to Durham |
The USA Baseball team will go head to head with Japan and its pitching star Yuki Saito at the DBAP on July 4th. |
USA Baseball and the Japanese University Baseball Federation announced the names of the 22 players on the 2007 Japanese Collegiate All-Star roster which will play in the 36th Annual USA versus Japan Collegiate Series on July 4-8, 2007 in Durham and Kannapolis, North Carolina.
Highlighting the Japanese roster is Yuki Saito, who first gained national prominence throughout Japan as the staff ace for the National Champions, Waseda Jitsugyo High School. This past year, Saito led Waseda University to the Japan University Championship, their first title in 33 years. He was also the first freshman in the 56-year history of the tournament to be named Tournament MVP.
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July 3rd Celebration Features Former MVP
1983 World Series MVP Rick Dempsey will sign autographs at the DBAP on July 3rd. |
Don’t miss your chance to meet 1983 World Series MVP Rick Dempsey at the July 3rd game between the Durham Bulls and Toledo Mudhens presented by MASN. Before tossing out the ceremonial first pitch, Dempsey will host an autograph and photo session from 6pm-6:45pm on the main concourse. Also during the game, the Bulls will wear special edition Red, White and Blue jerseys that will be auctioned off to benefit Meals on Wheels. Get your tickets here.
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As a freshman, he was 4-0 with a 1.92 ERA over 27 innings of work. He struck out 29, walked just nine and gave up 15 hits. Opponents batted just .155 against him. A crowd favorite in Japan, a nation-wide television audience and a crowd of over 36,000 watched one of his most recent outings.
The Japanese team will open exhibition play on July 1st in Columbia, South Carolina in an exhibition game versus the Columbia Blowfish of the Coastal Plain League. They will play a second exhibition game on July 2nd in Fayetteville, North Carolina versus the Fayetteville Swampdogs.
The opening game of the 36th Annual USA versus Japan Collegiate Series is scheduled for July 4th in Durham, North Carolina. Games will follow on July 5th in Kannapolis, North Carolina and back to Durham for Games #3-5.
Thanks to DBBC’s Matt DeMargel for these capcom stories & photos.
