DURHAM, N.C. – Returning members Ian Kennedy (Southern California, So., Huntington Beach, Calif.) and Drew Stubbs (Texas, So., Atlanta, Texas) headlined a 22-man roster selected as the 2005 USA Baseball National Team, the governing body of amateur baseball in the United States announced Friday. The selections were made after a four-day trials period in which 39 players participated at Doak Field on the campus of North Carolina State.

Kennedy and Stubbs led Team USA to the title at the 2004 FISU World Championships. The 2005 team is coached by Steve Smith (Baylor) with assistants John Cohen (Kentucky), Rob Walton (Oral Roberts) and Tim Jamieson (Missouri). Jamieson replaces Dave Van Horn of Arkansas, who had been named to the 2005 coaching staff earlier this year.

Joining Kennedy on the 2005 pitching staff were fellow right-handers Kyle McCulloch (Texas, So., Houston, Texas), Mark Melancon (Arizona, So., Golden, Colo.), Jonah Nickerson (Oregon State, So., Oregon City, Ore.), Chris Perez (Miami-FL, So., Holmes Beach, Fla.) and Max Scherzer (Missouri, So., Chesterfield, Mo.). Southpaws on the staff are Kevin Gunderson (Oregon State, So., Portland, Ore.), David Price (Vanderbilt, Fr., Murfreesboro, Tenn.) and Joe Savery (Rice, Fr., Bellaire, Texas).

Position players selected to the 2005 USA Baseball National Team were catchers J.P. Arencibia (Tennessee, Fr., Miami, Fla.) and Brian Jeroloman (Florida, So., Wellington, Fla.); infielders Adam Davis (Florida, So., Fort Myers, Fla.), Blake Davis (Cal State Fullerton, So., Fountain Valley, Calif.), Wes Hodges (Georgia Tech, So., Ooltewah, Tenn.), Matt LaPorta (Florida, So., Port Charlotte, Fla.) and Josh Rodriguez (Rice, So., Houston, Texas); and outfielders John Jay (Miami-FL, So., Miami, Fla.), Hunter Mense (Missouri, So., Liberty, Mo.), Shane Robinson (Florida State, So., Tampa, Fla.) and Stubbs.

Two utility players made the squad: pitcher/first baseman/outfielder Sean Doolittle (Virginia, Fr., Tabernacle, N.J.) and pitcher/catcher/first baseman Matt Wieters (Georgia Tech, Fr., Goose Creek, S.C.).

For a complete 22-man roster, log on to: http://www.usabaseball.com/sports/m-nat-basebl/mtt/usab-m-nat-basebl-mtt.html.

Team USA begins play Saturday at 7 p.m. against the Torrington Twisters at Fuessenich Park in Torrington, Conn. After two more games against teams from the NECBL, Team USA travels to Japan to participate in the 34th annual USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Series. The Americans will be looking to capture the series overseas for the first time since 1979. Team USA will also play a five-game series in Taiwan before returning to the United States for series against Italy and Nicaragua.