Former Flame David Haehnel pitching for Team USA

Nov. 18, 2005

Phoenix, Ariz. - Former UIC pitcher David Haehnel (Wheeling, Ill./WheelingH.S.) debuted for Team USA this past Wednesday (Nov. 16), as the former Flames standout threw 1.1 innings of perfect baseball against Mexico in the United States' 5-4 victory at the 2005 CONCEBE Baseball Regional Qualifying Tournament.

Haehnel, who is currently in his second year in the Baltimore Orioles'farm system, retired all four batters he faced against Mexico. Haehnel closed the sixth inning and pitched a 1-2-3 seventh, picking up a strikeout along the way, to keep the U.S. within striking distance in a game in which Team USA eventually won in the bottom of the ninth.

Haehnel is on a roster that features highly-touted Angels farmhand Jered Weaver and former Cub infielder and current Washington National Brendan Harris.

Named the 2004 Team MVP for the Aberdeen Ironbirds, the Class A affiliate of the Orioles, Haehnel's name is all over the UIC record books. An eighth-round pick by the Orioles in the 2004 MLB Amateur Draft, Haehnel is UIC's leader in career winning percentage (.777, 14-4 career record) and second in career saves (16).

He finished his three-year Flames career with a 2.69 career ERA, the second-best mark in UIC history.

Team USA is coached by former major league skipper Davey Johnson.

The CONCEBE Regional Olympic Qualifying Tournament is the first step for national teams to qualify for the 2008 Olympics. Team USA clinched a spot in the Americas Qualifying Tournament, the next step in Olympic qualifying, thanks to a 7-4 win over Nicaragua.

Story provided by UIC Office of Sports Information