NJCAA Baseball to play in 2024 Baseball Week Haarlem
Charlotte, NC - The NJCAA and the NJCAA Baseball Coaches Association have announced that an NJCAA Baseball All-Star Team will be assembled to represent the NJCAA and the United States at Baseball Week Haarlem, one of the most prestigious international amateur baseball tournaments in the world. Baseball Week Haarlem will be held July 12-19, 2024, in Haarlem, Netherlands.
"The NJCAA is excited to represent the United States at Baseball Week Haarlem next year," stated Dr. Christopher Parker, NJCAA President & CEO. "This will be a great opportunity for our student-athletes to play on an international stage and showcase the immense talent at the two-year level."
Marty Smith from Central Florida will take the lead as head coach for the NJCAA Baseball All-Star team. Smith will be assisted by Mike Davenport of Madison (WI) and Rob Valli of RCSJ Gloucester as assistant coaches.
The NJCAA All-Star Team last competed in the tournament in 2010. The team was coached by LSU Eunice's Jeff Willis who is now the NJCAA Baseball Coaches Association President. Willis led the team to a fourth-place finish while competing against teams representing Chinese Taipei, Japan, Cuba, and the Netherlands.
Baseball Week Haarlem hosted its very first tournament in 1961. Honkbal Week runs every other year and 2024 marks the 31st edition. Throughout the years, Team USA has regularly participated in this international baseball tournament having won championships in 2000, 20002, 2008, and 2014.
The NJCAA Baseball Coaches Association will identify the top 120 players by January 1, 2024. The final NJCAA Baseball All-Star Team roster will be selected from that list during the spring 2024 semester.