DURHAM, N.C. - Kennesaw State catcher Ronnie Freeman was selected as an alternate for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team in an announcement made by USA Baseball on Thursday afternoon.

Freeman, who batted .392 for the Owls this season and hit in a school-record 42 consecutive games, is one of eight alternates named to the squad. The team is comprised of 22 non-draft eligible players from throughout the country and will compete in a 12-day summer tour, culminating with five games against the Japanese Collegiate All-Stars, including a final game at TD Amitrade Park in Omaha, Neb.

“This is a very proud moment for Ronnie, his family and for everyone at Kennesaw State,” said Owls head coach Mike Sansing. “Anytime you’ve earned the opportunity to represent your country it is a tremendous honor and something very special. Ronnie is not only a talented player, but he’s a young man of great character who will proudly represent our country and our institution.”

The Kennesaw State sophomore is one of four catchers on the squad and as an alternate; Freeman has been invited to join the 2011 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team tour. Alternates are used for the 10 roster players who are participating in the College World Series. USA Baseball will make roster decisions through the end of the College World Series.

The tour begins with a practice session on June 22 and continues through July 8 with visits to eight states, Freeman is the first Kennesaw State player to be represented on the USA Collegiate National Team and is one of only four former Atlantic Sun Conference players to earn a roster spot on the national team.

2011 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team

Name	Pos	B/T	Ht	Wt	Hometown	College	Year
Mark Appel	RHP	R/R	6.5	190	San Roman, Calif.	Stanford	So.
D.J. Baxendale	RHP	R/R	6.2	190	Jacksonville, Ark.	Arkansas	So.
Josh Elander	C/OF	R/R	6.1	215	Round Rock, Texas	TCU	So.
Dominic Ficociello	IF	B/R	6.4	185	Fullerton, Calif.	Arkansas	Fr.
Nolan Fontana	IF	L/R	5.11	190	Winter Garden, Fla.	Florida	So.
Kevin Gausman	RHP	R/R	6.4	185	Centennial, Colo.	LSU	So.
Brian Johnson	LHP	L/L	6.3	225	Cocoa Beach, Fla.	Florida	So.
Branden Kline	RHP	R/R	6.3	190	Frederick, Md.	Virginia	So.
Corey Knebel	RHP	R/R	6.3	195	Georgetown, Texas	Texas	Fr.
Deven Marrero	IF	R/R	6.1	172	Davie, Fla.	Arizona State	So.
Hoby Milner	LHP	L/L	6.2	165	Ft. Worth, Texas	Texas	So.
Andrew Mitchell	RHP	R/R	6.3	205	Houston, Texas	TCU	Fr.
Tyler Naquin	OF	L/R	6.2	175	Spring, Texas	Texas A&M	So.
Brady Rodgers	RHP	R/R	6.2	187	Richmond, Texas	Arizona State	So.
Marcus Stroman	RHP	R/R	5.9	185	Medford, N.Y.	Duke	So.
Michael Wacha	RHP	R/R	6.6	195	Texarkana, Texas	Texas	So.
Christian Walker	IF	R/R	6.0	220	Limerick, Pa.	South Carolina	So.
Erich Weiss	IF	L/R	6.3	180	Brenham, Texas	Texas	Fr.
Mike Zunino	C	R/R	6.2	215	Cape Coral, Fla.	Florida	So.
a-Eric Anderson	RHP	R/R	6.4	210	Highlands Ranch, Colo.	Missouri	So.
a-Matt Boyd	LHP/IF	L/L	6.3	215	Mercer Island, Wash.	Oregon State	So.
a-Ronnie Freeman	C	R/R	6.1	190	Lawrenceville, Ga.	Kennesaw State	So.
a-Michael Lorenzo	OF	R/R	6.3	182	Anaheim, Calif.	Cal State Fullerton	Fr.
a-David Lyon	C	S/R	5.11	190	Emporium, Pa.	Kent State	Jr.
a-Brian Ragira	OF	R/R	6.2	205	Arlington, Texas	Stanford	Fr.
a-Ryne Stanek	RHP	R/R	6.4	180	Overland Park, Kan.	Arkansas	Fr.
a-Tom Windle	LHP	L/L	6.3	190	Maple Grove, Minn.	Minnesota	Fr.

2011 Collegiate National Team Coaches
Manager - Tim Jamieson, Missouri
Pitching Coach - Rob Walton, Oral Roberts
Assistant Coach - Scott Stricklin, Kent State
Assistant Coach - Dave Van Horn, Arkansas
Aux. Coach - Dan Pietroburgo, Missouri

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