Bruins Shine for USA Baseball
July 21, 2017 | Baseball
LOS ANGELES โ The USA Baseball Collegiate National Team wrapped up its summer tour this week and had a successful summer thanks in large part to a pair of UCLA Bruins, head coach John Savage and right-handed pitcher Jon Olsen.
Savage, the manager for the 2017 Collegiate Team, help lead the U.S. to a 15-5 overall record, including a 10-4 mark during international play. The United States won all three international series it competed in, including going 4-0 against Chinese Taipei and 3-2 versus both Cuba and Japan. The win over Cuba marked the third-straight series win, while also improving to 23-18 in 41 all-time series against Japan.
Olsen, an All-Pac-12 selection this Spring, threw 10.1 innings in six appearances for the United States this summer. He recorded a 2.61 ERA and struck out 15 batters compared to just two walks. Olsen made two relief appearances in wins over Cuba combining to toss 2.0 shutout innings with three strikeouts. He also made one appearance against Japan in a 3-1 victory allowing just one hit in 1.2 scoreless innings of work with one strikeout.
UCLA has now sent 15 players to play for the USA Baseball National Team a total of 19 times. The last time a UCLA player was named to Team USA was 2014 when James Kaprielian was awarded with the Performance of the Year Award for his 6.0 inning shutout of Chinese Taipei. Savage made his second tour with the Collegiate team this summer as he was also an assistant coach in 2000.
