CAPE CENTRAL'S PIERCE TO PLAY BASEBALL IN NEW ZEALAND

Jay Pierce will be able to combine playing baseball with taking his first trip outside the United States.

Pierce, who will be a senior at Cape Girardeau Central High School this year, was recently selected to play on a team that will travel to New Zealand Aug. 4-17 for a tournament against squads from several other countries.

"It's pretty exciting," said Pierce. "I've never been out of the country before, so I'm thrilled about that. And I'm really looking forward to the baseball."

According to Pierce, a national organization called People to People sends various age-group baseball teams to different countries each summer. A representative of the group contacted Pierce and asked if he would be interested in participating. Despite the high cost of the trip -- each player had to come up with nearly $5,000 -- Pierce didn't hesitate.

"I was pretty excited when they talked to me about it," he said. "They said somebody had seen me play. I think it was when I went down to a big camp in Florida during the winter with a few other Central players."

Pierce will be on a team with players from seven or eight different states. Two other Missourians -- both from the Kansas City area -- will be on the squad.

The No. 2 pitcher for Central's Tigers this year and also a member of the Cape Girardeau Ford & Sons American Legion baseball team this summer, Pierce said he will likely pitch and also play a position during the trip to New Zealand.

"It should be a really fun trip," he said. "I'm looking forward to going."