Matt Boyd, a 2009 Eastside Catholic graduate and soon to be member of the Oregon State University baseball team, has been selected to attend the 18 and under national baseball team trials in September.

The USA Baseball 18U National Team is made up of 20 players from across the U.S. which will represent the country at the 2009 COPABE Pan Am Championships in Venezuela in early October.

Boyd was the only player from the Northwest to be choosen to attend the trials, which will be held in North Carolina.

After being selected in May by USA Baseball, Boyd attended a weeklong competition known as the Tournament of Stars (TOS). The event is comprised of the nation’s 144 best baseball players who were born between 1991 and 1992.

Boyd was one of 45 players who were choosen to attend the trials camp.

“The players selected have a high knowledge of baseball and a good aptitude about how the game is played,” Gary LaFevers added. LaFevers is the Head Coach of the 18U National Team.

“This will make the coaches’ jobs easier once we get to the Trials as far as getting everyone on the same page with what we want to do. Going into the Trials, we have more overall team speed than what I expected to find. We have selected 34 outstanding players who will compete and push each other to the next level.”

After the trials the coaching staff will announce the final 20 players roster for the 18U National Team on Sept. 17. The team will train together before heading south to Baruisimeto, Venezula to compete from Sept. 25 through Oct. 4 in the Pan American Junior Championships.