CARY, N.C. - Boston College freshman right-handed pitcher Mason Pelio (San Diego, Calif.) has accepted an invitation from USA Baseball to the Collegiate National Team Training Camp. Recognized as a Freshman All-American by Perfect Game/Rawlings, Pelio would be the first BC player in the 46-year history of USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team program.
Pelio started his rookie season as the Eagles' Sunday starter before moving into the Saturday role midway through ACC play. He went 4-3 on the season with a 3.63 earned run average and 62 strikeouts in 72 innings. Pelio turned in seven quality starts, including seven innings of two-hit, shutout ball to clinch a series at No. 19 Florida State. An ACC All-Freshman Team pick, he got BC off on the right foot with six innings and one earned run against eighth-seeded Clemson in an eventual extra-inning win in the ACC Championship opener.
The USA Baseball Collegiate National Team will participate in series of four intrasquad exhibition games and a game against the Coastal Plain League Select before announcing a 26-man roster prior to the 8th USA vs. Cuba International Friendship Series that will take place July 2-6 in Cary, Charlotte, Durham and Hickory, North Carolina. Team USA's 26-man roster will then travel to Taiwan for the 19th USA vs. Chinese Taipei International Friendship Series after which USA Baseball will announce a final 24-man roster to compete in the 43rd USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Series from July 16-21 in Japan. For more information on USA Baseball and the Collegiate National Team, follow @USABaseball on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter; and @USABaseballCNT on Twitter.