Sports
Huntersville Native Set To Pitch In Olympic Baseball Semifinal
Huntersville native Ryan Ryder is a pitcher for the U.S. men's national baseball team, which takes on the Dominican Republic Wednesday.
HUNTERSVILLE, NC — Huntersville and North Mecklenburg High School are on an international stage this year, thanks to a pitcher who, along with the rest of the U.S. men's baseball team, are advancing to the semifinals in the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 Wednesday.
Olympian Ryan Ryder, who's from Huntersville and plays for the Texas Rangers feeder team, Round Rock Express, was selected to join USA Baseball in early July. Ryder graduated from North Mecklenburg High School and also attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
His selection for the team was a happy shock for his family. “We had to pinch ourselves for the first week. We’re like, looking online, checking our phones. Is this really happening?” his father and former professional baseball player Sean Ryan told WBTV recently.
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“We’re really proud that he’s an Olympian, opportunity of a lifetime,” he said.
The Tokyo games mark the first time baseball has been played at summer Olympic Games since 2008. Vying against Team USA (2-1) for gold are Dominican Republic, Israel, Japan, Korea and Mexico.
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Team USA is set to play the Dominican Republic in an elimination game Wednesday, Aug. 4 at noon JST (Tuesday, Aug. 3 at 11 p.m., EDT).
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