Courtesy of Alabama State Athletics
MONTGOMERY, ALA. | HBCU baseball skipper Jose Vazquez from Alabama State University managed the USA Collegiate National Team to a perfect 8-0 record during the then 2024 summer training camp in Cary, N.C. There were 8 HBCU baseball players on the Stars and Stripes rosters this year.
“What an experience with USA Baseball! I’m proud to have represented Alabama State University and all HBCU at the highest level this summer.” Vazquez said.
This was Vazquez’s second summer on the USA Collegiate National Team staff, serving as an assistant in 2023 before being elevated to manager for 2024.
The CNT also referred to as Stars captured two games over Stripes by the scores of 9-5 and 7-1 win to begin the schedule.
A five-game friendly series against Chinese Taipei as the CNT swept all five games in impressive fashion before closing the camp schedule with a win over Stripes.
Alabama State University senior hurler Luis Rodriguez tossed a scoreless inning with two strikeouts to help seal a win over the Stripes in the camp finale.
Catch Jose Vazquez interview on the MLB Network
FRIENDLY SERIES RECAPS VS. CHINESE TAIPEI
GAME 1
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Nolan Schubart (Oklahoma State) mashed a pair of homers and Derrick Smith (North Carolina State) locked down a tough save to give Team USA a 5-4 win in game one of the 21st USA vs. Chinese Taipei International Friendship Series on Saturday, June 29 at Segra Stadium.
GAME 2
CARY, N.C. – Team USA and Chinese Taipei were locked in a pitchers’ duel for the first few innings before Team USA broke through in the top of the fourth, and took a 3-2, rain-shortened victory on Sunday, June 30 at the National Training Complex.
GAME 3
CARY, N.C. – Team USA picked up a series-clinching victory over Chinese Taipei in commanding fashion, as the U.S. scored nine unanswered runs to win, 11-1, on Monday, July 1 at Coleman Field.
GAME 4
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Jamie Arnold (Florida State), Tyler Bremner (UC Santa Barbara), and Alton Davis II (Georgia) chilled the Chinese Taipei bats as they worked together to throw a combined no-hitter in a 9-0 victory for Team USA on Tuesday, July 2 at First National Bank Field in Greensboro, N.C.
It was the first no-hitter thrown by the Collegiate National Team since July 1, 2015, when the U.S. held Cuba hitless in a 2-0 win thrown by Tanner Houck, A.J. Puk, and Ryan Hendrix at the National Training Complex.
GAME 5
KANNAPOLIS, N.C. – Brooks Bryan (Troy) lifted a grand slam to put an exciting capper on the 21st USA vs. Chinese Taipei International Friendship Series sanctioned by the World Baseball Softball Confederation to help Team USA to a 6-0 win, and a five-game sweep, on Wednesday, July 3 at Atrium Health Park.
The USA Baseball Collegiate National Team has been in action for over 60 years and has won 13 gold medals in international competition. This summer, the Collegiate National Team played in a five-game series against Chinese Taipei in North Carolina.