July 19, 2007

Columbia, S.C. - South Carolina first baseman Justin Smoak and the USA Baseball National Team will play for the gold medal at the 2007 Pan American Games on Friday morning in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. The Red White and Blue will face Cuba in the championship game with first pitch tentatively set for 9 am. Smoak has started all 20 games for Team USA on its summer tour and is batting .267 (20-for-75) with a team-high three home runs as well as 15 RBI. Smoak also leads the team with seven doubles.

The game was scheduled for Thursday morning but has been delayed due to poor field conditions at Cidade do Rock Sports Complex. A game-time decision will be made on Friday in regards to the field conditions. On Wednesday, Team USA defeated Brazil (7-5) and Mexico (2-1) giving them a perfect 4-0 record at the Games and 15-5 overall mark this summer. Cuba is 3-1, having beaten Nicaragua 4-0 yesterday.

Smoak and Team USA return to the states for a five-game series with China beginning on Sunday, July 22 at Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile, Ala. The five-game series vs. China includes a trip to the Palmetto State at Knights Stadium on Friday, July 27 in Fort Mill, S.C. First pitch for that contest is set for 7:15 pm.