For most of us, getting a passport is a long and painful process that can last up to five or six weeks. However, when N.C. State pitcher Eric Surkamp applied for his passport this summer, it came back in just a couple of days.

That’s what happens when Team USA requests your services.

Surkamp, a junior in business management, got a call in mid-July telling him the National Team needed him, and he responded. The junior from Cincinnati left his team in the Cape Cod League immediately to suit up for the Red, White and Blue.

“He really saved us in a lot of ways,” Team USA pitching coach Bill Kinneberg said. “Eric did a tremendous job on fitting in right away, feeling very comfortable and doing his thing. It was a tough situation for him to leave his Cape team, but I think he was excited to join us and go on to Holland.”

Surkamp pitched two games for Team USA. The first was a one-hit, one-run game in which Surkamp pitched 5 2/3 innings in a 2-1 USA victory over the Netherlands.

After the series of exhibition games in the Triangle, the U.S. team set out for Rotterdam, Netherlands, to compete in the 2007 World Port tournament against Cuba, Japan, the Netherlands and Taiwan.

“I thought by going to a different country, we were going to be playing on crappy fields and stuff like that,” Surkamp said. “The fields were actually nice. At their baseball games, it is more like a party. There is more music.”

“Over there, alcohol is such a big part of their society, it was just like a huge party outside of the stadium. During the games, they get into it, and people are dancing in the stands. It was just a really cool experience.”

Surkamp started for Team USA in the Aug. 7 game against Japan. He pitched six scoreless innings, striking out five en route to a 10-0 U.S. victory. It was his only start in the World Port tournament, but Kinneberg said Surkamp likely would have started had the Americans made the championship game.

Team USA finished up the tournament with a 4-4 record. All four losses came against Cuba or Taiwan. Cuba beat Taiwan for the tournament championship, and the Americans placed third.

Surkamp pitched 15 2/3 innings overall for Team USA, posting a 1.15 ERA with one win and 15 strikeouts.

“I am definitely happy with my performance, but I always think I can do better,” Surkamp said. “It was a big thrill just going out there and pitching against those guys. These are all the best guys in their leagues and their countries. It was just so cool to put yourself up against that kind of competition.”

This summer marked the first time Surkamp has ever been out of the country or faced international competition. He said he was driven to go by the honor of playing for America.

“More than anything, playing for Team USA is the highest honor a baseball player can get,” Surkamp said. “You can’t really play for anyone bigger than your country. Wearing the U.S.A. across my chest with the red, white and blue was the biggest thrill for me.”

Surkamp said it was interesting how each country played its own flavor of baseball.

“The Cuban guys were players from their professional league in Cuba,” Surkamp said. “They were just all-around stronger and better hitters. The Japan guys, a lot of them have a swing like Ichiro. They don’t hit fastballs as well as they hit off-speed. That’s the big thing that surprised me; they hit off-speed better than most Americans do.”

“The Japanese team also played a lot more small ball. They like to bunt. The Cuban team was more about hitting home runs. They just tried to drive the ball and stuff like that. The Netherlands were more like an Americanized team.”

Although he did not pitch for Team USA at the Pan-American games in Brazil in early July, coach Kinneberg, who is also the head coach for the University of Utah, said they could have used him.

The Americans also fell short in that tournament, finishing second to Cuba. Kinneberg said he appreciates everything Surkamp did for Team USA in Rotterdam.

“He pitched very well there,” Kinneberg said. “I think he went six or seven innings without giving up a run. We needed some valuable innings, and he pitched great for us and won a ballgame.”