Lelo Prado Named USA Baseball Coach of the Year
October 16, 2002 | Baseball
Oct. 16, 2002
TUCSON, AZ - University of Louisville baseball Head Coach Lelo Prado was named Coach of the Year as USA Baseball, in coordination with the United States Olympic Committee, announced Wednesday the winners of their 2002 Athlete, Coaches, & Team of the Year Awards.
ATHLETE OF THE YEAR - MICHAEL AUBREY - USA BASEBALL NATIONAL TEAM (Tulane University) Michael Aubrey - a member of the 2002 USA Baseball National Team - was named the most outstanding first baseman at the first ever FISU World University Baseball Championships in Messina, Italy after guiding Team USA to a silver medal. Aubrey - currently a junior at Tulane University - led Team USA this summer in five offensive categories, including batting average (.405), hits (45), home runs (6), RBI (26) and runs scored (25). Aubrey became the first player in National Team history to hit over .400 with a wooden bat, when he posted a .405 mark (tied for 8th highest Team USA batting average since 1984). Aubrey - a second-year National Team member - also tied a Team USA record by connecting on two home runs in one game on July 9 vs the Keene Swamp Bats. For his team leadership and outstanding play as a member of USA Baseball's National Team, Aubrey is the 2002 USA Baseball Athlete of the Year.
COACH OF THE YEAR - LELO PRADO - USA BASEBALL NATIONAL TEAM (University of Louisville) Lelo Prado - the Head Coach of the 2002 USA Baseball National Team - guided his collegiate amateur squad to a 23-7 record this past summer, and a silver medal at the first ever FISU World University Baseball Championships in Messina, Italy. In addition, his team also captured the gold medal at the Haarlem Baseball Week in Haarlem, The Netherlands, and defeated the Japanese Collegiate All-Stars three games to two, in the 31st annual USA/Japan Collegiate Championship Series. For his guidance and dedication, Prado is honored as the 2002 USA Baseball Coach of the Year.
DEVELOPMENTAL COACH OF THE YEAR - EDGAR SOTO - USA BASEBALL JUNIOR NATIONAL TEAM (Pima Community College) Edgar Soto - the head coach of the 2002 USA Baseball Junior National Team - led his team to a bronze medal at the 2002 IBAF World Junior Baseball Championships. The bronze medal finish extended USA Baseball's streak of having medaled at their 20th consecutive world championship event at the Junior (18-under) level - a record matched by no other country in the world. In addition, Soto's squad set or tied 18 different individual or team records. For continuing a tradition of excellence with the Junior National program, Soto was named the 2002 USA Baseball Developmental Coach of the Year.
TEAM OF THE YEAR - USA BASEBALL NATIONAL TEAM The 2002 USA Baseball National Team carried the weight of incredibly high expectations as they headed overseas to compete in the first ever FISU World University Baseball Championship - an event created exclusively for the college-aged athlete. After two summers of preparations, the Americans opened the event in front of a sold-out crowd at Primo Nebiolo Stadium in Messina, Italy with a 10-0 shutout over the host Italians. They went on to secure victories over Canada, Korea, the Czech Republic and Japan before falling in the world championship game, 6-0 to Cuba. The squad had earlier in the summer produced a three games to two victory over the Japanese Collegiate All-Stars, extending a Team USA tradition of never having lost the series on home soil. They also captured the United States' second consecutive gold medal at the Haarlem Baseball Week with a 5-4 win over the Netherlands. Based on the above accomplishments, the 2002 USA Baseball National Team is recognized as USA Baseball's Team of the Year.
Release courtesy of USA BASEBALL
