Carmichael, Brady chosen for national trials
Of the 40 high school age players invited by USA Baseball to attend the 16-under National Team Trials, 13 are Floridians. Two of those live right here in Cape Coral.
Jason Carmichael of Mariner and Sean Brady of Ida Baker were invited to attend the trials scheduled for Sept. 25-Oct. 6 at The Woodlands and Houston, Texas.
At the end of the workouts, intrasquad games and exhibitions, 20 players will be chosen to represent the USA National 16U Team and compete in the Pan Am AA Championships in Culiacan, Mexico, Oct. 8-17.
“Obviously we are extremely proud of Jason, who has been playing baseball since he was 8 years old,” said Stan Carmichael, Jason’s father. “He has progressed and become a solid player. He stood out and attracted their (USA Baseball) attention at the trials in Jupiter.”
Carmichael credits the coaches at Mariner for helping bring Jason to such a high level as a pitcher. Jason also plays summer ball for the 18U Tampa Warriors, which play a tournament schedule against other teams with some of the top talent in the country.
Jason, who will be a junior at Mariner in the fall, has received a stack of offers and interest from colleges around the country, but has committed verbally to the University of Florida.
“Education is extremely important for him,” his father said. “He wants to play for the Gators … and his main (study) interest is in architecture.”
Brady, who will be a sophomore at Baker in the fall, is looking forward to the trials knowing he will have one teammate that he knows in advance.
“It’s kind of neat to be one of 40 kids selected in the country and it means a lot,” Brady said. “I’ll talk to and get to know many of the other players, but with Jason there it is a lot better than not knowing anyone.”
Brady, a left-hander, and Carmichael, a right-hander, were recently teammates on a 13-14 AAU team and were the starting pitchers when their high school teams played against each other this spring.
“My first goal is to get a college scholarship,” said Brady, who also plays summer ball for the Southwest Florida Yard Dogs. “Any D-I school interested in me would be great. I won’t be picky about it. Even Indian River (a junior college) has shown interest.”
Being away from the classroom for two or as many as three weeks soon after school starts in the fall is not overlooked by USA Baseball. Arrangements are made with each player’s school to keep up with their daily assignments. Teachers conduct at least two hours of study hall time each day the players attend the trials or the tournament in Mexico.