Goal-line
New member
Football will have to wait for Jakson Reetz.
The Norris senior learned Wednesday he had secured a spot on the 20-man roster of the USA Baseball 18 & under team that will play in the World Cup in Taiwan Aug. 30 through Sept. 8.
"I'm sad I can't be with my football team, but I get to represent our country, the greatest country ever," Reetz said from Fullerton, Calif. "I'm blessed to be in that spot. When I get back from Taiwan, I'll be looking forward to playing with my friends on the football team and help them get another win three days after I get back."
Reetz made the USA team after a five-day tryout process in California. The 40-man tryout squad played five games, including one at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.
Now, the team turns its attention to the World Cup. The team leaves Saturday for Taiwan. Three warmup games are slated against the Chinese Taipei team in Taichung Stadium. The USA squad opens pool play Aug. 30 against Colombia and then plays Korea, Italy, Australia and Cuba the next four days in pool play. After three games in Round 2, the medal game is slated for Sept. 8.
Reetz is a two-time Lincoln Journal Star Super-Stater and was an honorary co-captain this year. The Nebraska Gatorade player of the year, Reetz was named the MVP in the Perfect Game Classic by Rawlings earlier this summer.
He said he thought his versatility helped him make the USA team. During the five games of the tryout process, he caught, played third base and right field and he also pitched.
"I just wanted to make the team, so I did anything I had to," he said. "I played well in all those positions, although I didn't hit as well as I would have liked, but I did some good things."
Two of the tryout games were played at Cal State Fullerton, one at Long Beach State University, one at the University of San Diego and the game at Dodger Stadium.
While in San Diego, the players went to the Coronado Amphibious Naval Base, spending time with some of the SEALs training there.
"It was awesome to see how hard they work. to see what they have to do to prepare to protect our country," Reetz said. "They talked to us about mental strength and preparation. We watched some of them demonstrate the obstacle course, but our coaches didn't let us do it. It looked extremely hard."
Reetz said he was particularly happy longtime friend Keaton McKinney of Ankeny, Iowa, also made the team.
"I'm fortunate one of my teammates is someone I've been playing with since I was nine years old," he said. "I played with him all through select ball. We got away from it during high school ball but then were reunited this summer. It's humbling to see a guy you've played against being brought up with you."
Reetz is considered one of the top prospects in the country and has already committed to Nebraska.
"I put everything I had into this. It was always a lifetime goal to be a part of Team USA and it's one of the top things in my high school experience," he said. "I was able to win a state championship with my team at Norris and now I have the chance to represent our country."
www.journalstar.com
Think he will play for the Huskers next year?
The Norris senior learned Wednesday he had secured a spot on the 20-man roster of the USA Baseball 18 & under team that will play in the World Cup in Taiwan Aug. 30 through Sept. 8.
"I'm sad I can't be with my football team, but I get to represent our country, the greatest country ever," Reetz said from Fullerton, Calif. "I'm blessed to be in that spot. When I get back from Taiwan, I'll be looking forward to playing with my friends on the football team and help them get another win three days after I get back."
Reetz made the USA team after a five-day tryout process in California. The 40-man tryout squad played five games, including one at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.
Now, the team turns its attention to the World Cup. The team leaves Saturday for Taiwan. Three warmup games are slated against the Chinese Taipei team in Taichung Stadium. The USA squad opens pool play Aug. 30 against Colombia and then plays Korea, Italy, Australia and Cuba the next four days in pool play. After three games in Round 2, the medal game is slated for Sept. 8.
Reetz is a two-time Lincoln Journal Star Super-Stater and was an honorary co-captain this year. The Nebraska Gatorade player of the year, Reetz was named the MVP in the Perfect Game Classic by Rawlings earlier this summer.
He said he thought his versatility helped him make the USA team. During the five games of the tryout process, he caught, played third base and right field and he also pitched.
"I just wanted to make the team, so I did anything I had to," he said. "I played well in all those positions, although I didn't hit as well as I would have liked, but I did some good things."
Two of the tryout games were played at Cal State Fullerton, one at Long Beach State University, one at the University of San Diego and the game at Dodger Stadium.
While in San Diego, the players went to the Coronado Amphibious Naval Base, spending time with some of the SEALs training there.
"It was awesome to see how hard they work. to see what they have to do to prepare to protect our country," Reetz said. "They talked to us about mental strength and preparation. We watched some of them demonstrate the obstacle course, but our coaches didn't let us do it. It looked extremely hard."
Reetz said he was particularly happy longtime friend Keaton McKinney of Ankeny, Iowa, also made the team.
"I'm fortunate one of my teammates is someone I've been playing with since I was nine years old," he said. "I played with him all through select ball. We got away from it during high school ball but then were reunited this summer. It's humbling to see a guy you've played against being brought up with you."
Reetz is considered one of the top prospects in the country and has already committed to Nebraska.
"I put everything I had into this. It was always a lifetime goal to be a part of Team USA and it's one of the top things in my high school experience," he said. "I was able to win a state championship with my team at Norris and now I have the chance to represent our country."
www.journalstar.com
Think he will play for the Huskers next year?
