By R.L. Bynum

On the Fourth of July, two North Carolina right-handed pitchers were named to represent their country in the upcoming U.S.-Japan Collegiate All-Star Series.

Making the 26-player team were rising junior Jason DeCaro and rising sophomore Ryan Lynch, making UNC one of nine schools with at least two players on the roster.

DeCaro pitched for the U.S. team in the Summer League Tour last season, striking out three in three innings.

DeCaro went 9–3 as a sophomore for the Tar Heels last season with a 3.78 ERA, 26 walks and 70 strikeouts in 83⅓ innings. Lynch, named to D1 Baseball’s All-Freshman team, had an impressive freshman season, going 5–1 with a 2.93 ERA, 25 walks and 73 strikeouts.

The team’s tour begins with games on July 8 and 9 in Hokkaido, Japan, at 4 a.m. ET. The series moves to Niigata, Japan, for games at 3 a.m. ET July 11 and 10 p.m. ET July 12. The final game will be in Tokyo at 3 a.m. ET on July 13.

The U.S. leads the series with Japan 24–20.

Other ACC players on the team are Georgia Tech outfielder Drew Burress, N.C. State right-handed pitcher Jacob Dudan, Virginia outfielder A.J. Gracia, Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey, N.C. State left-handed pitcher Ryan Marohn, Louisville outfielder Lucas Moore, Wake Forest right-handed pitcher Blake Morningstar, Virginia Tech right-handed pitcher Brett Renfrow and Louisville outfielder Zion Rose.

USC coach Andy Stankiewicz is the team’s manager.

---

USA-Japan Collegiate All-Star Series

4 a.m. ET, July 8 at Es Con Field in Hokkaido, Japan
4 a.m. ET, July 9 at Es Con Field in Hokkaido, Japan
3 a.m. ET, July 11 at Hard Off Eco in Niigata, Japan
10 p.m. ET, July 12 at Hard Off Eco in Niigata, Japan
3 a.m. ET, July 13 at Jingu Stadium in Tokyo

---

Photo courtesy of UNC Athletics Communications