Steinbrenner High School’s senior right-handed pitcher CJ Van Eyk was one of just 20 players nationwide selected to the USA Baseball 18U National Team.
(File Photo)
The team, which was finalized on Sept. 23, is taking part in the COPABE Pan American Championships in Monterrey, Mexico, which runs through Oct. 9.
Prior to the selection, Van Eyk, a Florida State commit, shined during USA Baseball’s weeklong trial period in Houston, Texas. In two appearances, the 6-foot-2, 190-pound flamethrower struck out nine batters in six innings using a fastball-curveball combination.
Last season, Van Eyk was one of the most dominant pitchers in the state.
He was named the Florida Dairy Farmers’ Class 8A Player of the Year after ranking first in the class in strikeouts (130) and wins (12), and fifth in earned run average (0.77).
During a July interview with The Laker/Lutz News, Steinbrenner coach John Crumbley —who’s amassed four state titles and over 700 wins in his 25-plus career — said Van Eyk is “right up there with some of the top pitchers that I’ve coached in my career.”
