Rupp And Team USA Baseball Capture Honkbal Classic Championship
8/1/2002 8:00:00 AM | Baseball
Aug. 1, 2002
HAARLEM, The Netherlands - University of Maryland baseball head coach Terry Rupp and the USA Baseball National Team captured the Honkbal Baseball Classic in Haarlem, The Netherlands on Sunday, edging The Netherlands 5-4 in the championship game.
Rupp is spending the summer as an assistant coach for Team USA before returning for his third year at the helm of the Maryland baseball team. In 2002, the Terrapins finished with a 34-23 record (.596) under Rupp, earning them their first 30-win season and the program's highest winning percentage since 1981.
Team USA scored all five of their runs in the first inning of the title game, but despite the early deficit, the Dutch chipped away at the lead and eventually came within one run in the sixth inning. From there, Texas freshman and NCAA College World Series MVP Huston Street entered the game and struck out Dutch batter Railey Legito with the tying run at third base. Street allowed just one hit the rest of the way, and Team USA hung on to win 5-4.
Team USA played in various states in the U.S. on the USA Red, White and Blue Tour, before traveling to The Netherlands. With the win, they improved to 18-5 overall and now head to the first-ever FISU Collegiate World Baseball Championships in Sicily and Messina, Italy.
Rupp and the team are slated to face Italy on Friday, August 2nd following the tournament's opening ceremonies.
