For plenty of LSU baseball fans, the two most notable colors in sports are the classic purple and gold sported by the Fighting Tigers in Alex Box Stadium.
There are three other colors, though, that have a tad more meaning, at least according to LSU coach Paul Mainieri. Those shades are red, white and blue.
Two of Mainieri’s young stars, freshman shortstop Alex Bregman and sophomore starting pitcher Aaron Nola (7-0), will have the opportunity to represent their country when they take the field for the Team USA collegiate squad in the summer.
“We all seem to think LSU is the biggest thing going in sports,” Mainieri said. “There is actually one team that is bigger than LSU, and that’s called ‘USA.’ … it’s just a privilege and an honor for them. Not only that, but they get to play with some of the very best players in the country.”
This won’t be the first go-round for Bregman on the national team. The freshman has competed with the 16-and-under and 18-and-under USA squads in the past.
“It was a tremendous honor [to be selected again],” Bregman said. “To wear ‘USA’ across your chest one time is awesome, but to do it three times is unbelievable. I could have never even imagined it, and I’m just really blessed. I’m really happy that I get to do that again and represent myself and my country and my family.”
Mainieri noted that this season’s USA squad will travel to Japan, and it is also expected to play a series of games against the Cuban national team in the U.S.
Having his players selected for the national team is nothing new for Mainieri. Former Tiger catcher Micah Gibbs was selected to play for Team USA in 2009, and LSU-great and current Tampa Bay outfield prospect Mikie Mahtook joined the national squad in 2010. Mainieri considers the invite to be a career-changing experience for his players.
“I remember when Mikie came back from playing, he came back with a different level of maturity just having been around all those other great players and knowing they had ‘USA’ across their chest,” he said. “I’m sure it will be a great experience for both Alex and Aaron.”
As for Nola, the Team USA experience will be a new one. Nola, who is 7-0 with a 2.15 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 2013, will look to his freshman teammate for advice about travelling overseas.
This is the first time in 20 years that two LSU teammates will play together on the national team.
“[Having Bregman on the trip] makes it a little more comfortable,” Nola said. “He’s been there already. He’s a little younger, and he knows what to expect. I’ll have to ask him how it is, and I’m excited to be a part of it.”
“We all seem to think LSU is the biggest thing going in sports. There is actually one team that is bigger than LSU, and that’s called ‘USA.'”
