John Samuel Shenker, Steven Williams selected to Team USA squad

ALBANY — Steven Williams and John Samuel Shenker have played baseball from the homemade sandlot, to the high school field at Deerfield-Windsor School to an even bigger stage.

The DWS baseball standouts were selected to play on the first USA Baseball 17U National Development Team on Friday. It will be Williams’ second straight summer playing for Team USA.

“It’s a great opportunity to be able to do it two years in a row,” said Williams, who played a vital role in leading Deerfield-Windsor to the Georgia Independent Schools Association Class AAA state title in May.

“It will be a great chance to show our talents in front of college and pro scouts.”

USA Baseball is the national governing body for the sport of baseball in the United States and is a member of the United States Olympic Committee and the World Baseball Softball Confederation. The organization selects and trains the World Baseball Classic, World Cup and Pan Am teams (and all other USA Baseball Professional Teams); the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team; the USA Baseball 18U, 15U and 12U National Teams; and the USA Baseball Women’s National Team, all of which participate in various international competitions each year.

USA Baseball also presents the Golden Spikes Award annually to the top amateur baseball player in the country.

Williams batted .521 with seven doubles, three triples, five homers and 29 RBIs for the Knights. He also finished 6-0 on the mound with a 0.96 earned run average, including a pair of saves in the state championship series.

Shenker was on a missionary trip to Honduras and couldn’t be reached for comment. The sophomore battled some injuries this season which limited his production. He still batted .381 with 10 doubles, three homers and 26 RBIs as the designated hitter who batted cleanup.

Shenker also went 6-0 with a 1.15 ERA.

Williams expressed his excitement to play with Shenker.

“He and I go way back,” Williams said. “So it’s awesome for him to be a part of it too.”

Williams said the National Development Team will be different than last season when his 15U team played for medals.

The 2015 National Team Development Program will be held in Orange, Calif. at Lutheran High School Aug. 16-24. Players will train under some of the top coaches in the country for a week, then will play against the 18U Team.

According to a press release from USA Baseball, Jayson King will lead the staff for the 17U National Team Development Program. King, the head coach at Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, N.H., was an assistant coach on the gold-medal winning 2014 18U National Team.

His experience with USA Baseball also includes working the 2013 17U National Team Development Program as well as the Women’s National Team Development Program.

Alabama State University head coach Mervyl Melendez, Oregon State assistant coach Pat Bailey, University of Hartford head coach Justin Blood, University of Nebraska head coach Darin Ernstad, Puyallup High School (Wash.) head coach Marc Weise, Georgia State assistant coach Edwin Thompson and the Kings Academy (Fla.) head coach Brad Wilkerson will work with King.

Jim Lawler, two-time gold medal pitching coach for the 18U National Team, will also be working with the 17U Team.

At the end of the event, two players from the 17U National Team Development Program will be invited to the 2015 18U National Team Trials and eight players will be invited to the 2016 USA Baseball Tournament of Stars.

Williams said he couldn’t speak for Shenker but he was humbled to be a part of Team USA.

“It’s a great accomplishment,” Williams said.