KAUKAUNA — Griffin Boucher, entering his senior year at Kaukauna High School, is set to compete next month in the the upcoming World Baseball Softball Confederation Americas U-18 Pan American Men’s Championship.
Set for Sept. 3-9, 2023, the 14-player roster will travel to Sincelejo, Colombia where they will look to qualify for the 2023 WBSC U-18 Men’s Softball World Cup set to take place in Hermosillo, Mexico later this year.
Boucher, a manager last season with the reigning state champion Kaukauna Ghosts softball team and outfielder on Kaukauna’s baseball team, is one of 14 players on the USA softball roster.
The roster is dominated by Wisconsin players including five from Hudson with Boucher being one of 11 first-year players on the team.
“The coaching staff has assembled a talented group of young men that are dedicated to the game of fastpitch softball and are looking forward to competing among the best in the U-18 MNT division,” said head coach, Tony Aresco in a news release. “We, as a team, want our program to make our country proud both on and off the field with consistent excellence.”
Click here for more information on the WBSC U-18 Men’s World Cup Qualifier »
With sights set on a gold medal finish, the U.S. roster will compete alongside five other countries including Argentina, Canada, Colombia (Host) Peru, and Venezuela. Following a series of round robin matchups, the finals are set to take place September 9 with the top four teams advancing to the U-18 Men’s World Cup. The full schedule for the 2023 U-18 WBSC Americas World Cup Qualifier will be announced at a later date.
The 14-player roster showcases a mixture of veteran and rookie experience with four members from the 2019 WBSC Americas Qualifier roster and 2020 U-18 Men’s World Championship roster highlighting the 2023 squad.
Click here to view the athletes named to the 2023 U-18 WBSC Americas World Cup Qualifier roster »
At the helm of the U-18 MNT roster is head coach Aresco who previously served as an assistant coach with the 2018 and 2020 Junior Men’s National Team (JMNT). Joining Aresco in Colombia will be returning coaches Avon Meacham and Bob Piddock. Meacham garners a stacked resume including seasons spent with the 2009 and 2013 MNT, while Piddock previously served as an assistant coach for the JMNT in 2018 and head coach in 2020.
“We are incredibly excited and humbled for the opportunity to lead the U-18 Men’s National Team, along with the chance to compete and represent the United States on the highest stage,” Aresco stated.
Athletes selected to the U-18 MNT are part of the USA Softball athlete pool, having attended previous softball camps and clinics, league softball events and/or attended events coordinated by USA Softball.
To learn more about the USA Softball Men’s National Team, visit USASoftball.com.
