Eight teams over the next nine days are drawing the eyes of the collegiate baseball world in Omaha, Neb.

The majority of college baseball players either are scattered throughout the country in various summer leagues, trying to improve their skills for the 2010 season, or in negotiations following the MLB draft hoping to take the next step.

But a handful of the game’s best who are not playing in the College World Series are in Cary, N.C. for tryouts for the Team USA. Texas Tech’s Chad Bettis, the Monterey product, is among those vying for one of 22 roster spots hoping to represent his country while at the same time improve his game to where he might, at this time next year, be in those professional negotiations.

“It’s a great honor to have and I feel very privileged to play with guys that are somebody that hopefully I will be friends with for a lone time,” Bettis said. “It’s going to be a great experience to have.”

Bettis, the product of Monterey, was the undisputed ace of the Tech staff in 2009, starting first as a weekend starter but becoming more effective out of the bullpen as the Red Raiders’ closer. He led Tech with a 6-1 record with seven saves and a 3.59 ERA. He also pitched a team-high 722/3 innings and factored into 17 of the Red Raiders’ 25 wins this past season.

But the trials won’t be just a chance for Bettis to don his national colors. As a sophomore this past season, he will return as the anchor of the pitching staff in 2010, whatever that role may be.

He’ll also be draft eligible for the first time since he was taken in the eighth round out of Monterey in the 2007 draft. He turned down the money then and has been the most consistent pitcher on some Tech staffs with high ERAs the past two seasons.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way now that I think about it,” Bettis said.
“College was definitely the right choice for me and I have a lot of people to thank for that. The draft is another year down the road. So much of the stuff I’ve learned has been mentally and physically, stuff I never would have guessed if I’d gone directly to pro ball in the draft.”

Bettis said that after conversations with Team USA officials and coaches, the plan is to use him in the same role he served at Tech last year, where his seven saves ranked third on the school’s single-season list.

Should he make the team, he would be the fourth Red Raider chosen, joining catcher Josh Bard (1997-98), pitchers Monty Ward (1997) and Shane Wright (1998) and, most recently, outfielder Roger Kieschnick (2006-07).

The Team USA trials run through June 24, and even if he doesn’t make the team Bettis will still get plenty of summer work pitching for the Falmouth Commodores of the prestigious Cape Cod League. If he does make the team, he will be playing in the 37th Annual Japan vs. USA Collegiate Championships in Japan before closing out the summer at the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline World Baseball Challenge in Prince George, British Columbia, Canada.

Bettis added that he wants to soak in as much of the experience as he can but at the same time will be just as competitive on the field as he was for the Red Raiders, which could turn out to be an advantage for Team USA.

He’s also wary of setting himself up to not only take the next step for the Red Raiders next season but also in the progression of what he hopes will be a pro career after his collegiate days are done.

“I think the next step is to be more consistent with my command, with all my pitches,” Bettis said. “That is something scouts look for. I have to develop my curve ball a little better, and other than that, just keep progressing in all the ways I have been.”

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