D. Ryan Monceaux
Sports Editor
The USA Baseball National Team continues to roll on, sporting a 4-3 record going into Tuesday's game against Colombia. However, the highlight of Team USA's run has been the outstanding performance by UH sophomore Shane Nance. Nance, a 20-year-old left-handed pitcher from Dobie High School in Houston, has been the hammer for the team during the continental qualifier, which ends this Friday.
Nance, until Sunday, had been primarily been used in a closer's capacity. In four appearances which culminated in seven innings, Nance had not allowed a run while striking out 11 and only allowed two hits. In short, his performance going into Sunday's game was outstanding.
Head coach Ron Polk gave Sunday's start against Argentina to Houston's Nance.
He pitched seven innings of two-hit, one run ball, allowing only five base runners while striking out nine. He left in the eighth for reliever Casey Fossum (So. Texas A&M) with a 4-1 lead. Fossum came close to wasting Nance's efforts, but hung on in the ninth for a 4-3 U.S. victory. The win improved Nance to 2-0, with a 0.64 ERA.
Nance has become one of two aces on the Team USA staff. Baylor's Jason Jennings and Nance's numbers are practically identical, both 2-0 with sub-1.00 ERAs. Coach Polk is happy with Nance's performance.
"He really stepped-up his game for (Sunday's) game. We know he has the talent and the grit; it was just a matter of him starting a game for the first time in a while."
The start was Nance's first since the Conference USA Tournament in early May in New Orleans. He also leads the team in appearances in international games with five.
In order for Team USA to advance to the World Championship, it must qualify by placing in the top five at the continental qualifier which runs through Friday in Managua, Nicaragua. In addition to the United States, the tournament features the national teams from Argentina, Canada, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, and Venezuela.
The XXXIII World Championship is slated to be held July 21 through Aug. 2, and will be held in Italy. The 16-team field will be divided into two groups of eight. After a seven-game round robin, the top four teams in each group will advance to the quarterfinals.