Two promising high school baseball players from Oklahoma, Eli Willits of Fort Cobb-Broxton committed to OU, and Ethan Holliday from Stillwater committed to OSU, have earned spots on Team USA’s 18U National Team. They were selected for the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s 2024 U-18 Baseball World Cup Americas Qualifier in Panama City, Panama, taking place from August 2-11. They emerged as finalists from a competitive field of twenty players chosen after the 18U National Team Training Camp in Cary, North Carolina.
During the previous season, Willits boasted impressive stats with a .614 batting average, 10 home runs, and 30 RBIs, contributing significantly to Fort Cobb-Broxton’s second consecutive Class B state championship win. Despite still being a sophomore, Willits reclassified into the 2025 class. He comes from a baseball pedigree as the son of OU baseball Associate Head Coach Reggie Willits and younger brother of OU player Jaxon Willits.
Meanwhile, Holliday, heading into his senior year, led Stillwater to the Class 6A state semifinals with a .402 batting average, 12 home runs, and 40 RBIs. He is the son of former MLB All-Star Matt Holliday and younger brother of Jackson Holliday, the 2022 No. 1 pick for the Baltimore Orioles. Holliday brings previous international experience, having been part of Team USA’s U-15 squad that secured consecutive gold medals in the U-15 Baseball World Cup, including a pivotal performance against Cuba.
Rick Eckstein, the manager of the 18U National Team, expressed confidence in the selected roster, emphasizing their readiness to compete and represent the United States at the highest level of international competition. The team underwent rigorous preparation at the Training Camp, supported by a distinguished coaching staff featuring former MLB players, ensuring they are well-prepared to pursue a gold medal in Panama.
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