By Ed Birch, Special Writer
Jacob Ciccone, a 13-year-old youth league pitcher from Monmouth Junction, has been selected for final round tryouts for the USA Baseball North American team that will eventually represent the United States.
Jacob presently attends Crossroads North Middle School in the district, “and is an honors student as well as a superior athlete,” according to his father David Ciccone.
The USA Baseball program was founded by the United States Olympic Committee and is headquartered in Durham, North Carolina as part of the defending International League champions Durham Bulls, the AAA franchise of Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays.
Since 1978, USA Baseball is considered the governing body of amateur baseball, including Little League and Babe Ruth Baseball, according to the organization.
In New Jersey, tryouts for the coveted final team started with 600-700 youngsters from the state.
The competition, judged by major league and amateur scouts, is then dwindled down to 140 prospects, according to the organization.
The process is further reduced after a competition in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Of the remaining participants, the field is then cut down to just 16 athletes who will compete in Cary, North Carolina on Sept. 4-7, as part of Team North Atlantic.
The final round will consist of 230 prospects competing for 50 spots.
The last 16 selected for the final team will represent the United States in international play in 2015.
“Jacob has been playing organized baseball since he was six years old,” said a proud father David Ciccone. “He always has played for traveling teams and this year he played with Five Star Baseball in East Brunswick.”
Recently, in Allentown, scouts were able to determine pitch speeds from 67-70 miles per hour, Mr. Ciccone said.
“(That) is incredible for a youngster his age,” according to Mr. Ciccone.
He was recently selected for the amateur program Gallagher Baseball. Gallagher Baseball is run by former utility infielder Dave Gallagher, who recently played for the New York Mets.
Some 30 scouts have already been looking at the children who are trying out for USA Baseball.
Jacob said that he is interested in continuing his baseball career and is hoping to land a baseball scholarship at a top college program in the country.
Ironically, his 10-year-old brother, Alex, is also trying out for the 12-year-old USA Baseball program.
“(Alex) made the cuts in regional competition, but did not make the nationals,” according to his father.
