Dave Tollett, Evan Dempsey, Casey Scott all set to represent USA Baseball this summer
Alex MartinThe trademark red, white, and blue that every baseball player born in the United States longs to play for came true for a local sophomore with a breakout season.
FGCU's Evan Dempsey, fresh off being named the 2025 John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year, was selected to partake in Team USA's Collegiate National Team Camp, a move he confirmed Monday afternoon.
"It is a great opportunity to get the chance to play for Team USA," Dempsey said via text Monday. "It's something that I have always wanted to do since I was playing travel ball as a 12-year old."
Dempsey was 5-1 this season for FGCU with a 1.97 ERA. He pitched in 15 games, making 10 starts and finishing with 68 2/3 innings pitched. He struck out 75 and walked 20. Of the 57 hits he allowed this season, just six of them went for extra bases. He held opposing hitters to a .225 batting average.
As an outfielder, Dempsey played in all 60 games, starting 59. He posted a .309 batting average with 71 hits, including 18 doubles and three home runs, for a .435 slugging percentage. Dempsey scored 41 runs and racked up 30 RBIs. He was also a perfect 14-for-14 on stolen bases.
In the field, Dempsey committed only one error on 99 chances, earning 86 putouts and two assists. His fielding percentage was .990. Dempsey was also named the Collegiate Two-Way Player of the Year and a First Team All-American by Perfect Game and a First Team All-Southeast Region starting pitcher by the American Baseball Coaches Association.
Now, Dempsey will aim to break camp and join the team when they head to Japan later this year. The Tampa native is one of 56 players selected to the Collegiate National Team Training Camp roster.
Bishop Verot head coach promoted within USA Baseball
After serving as Team USA's 15U pitching coach since 2023, Casey Scott got even more encouraging news this year.
Scott, who is Bishop Verot's head coach, was promoted to be the manager of Team USA's 15U National Team. It was a move that was announced June 9.
"First and foremost, I never would've thought I would've had this opportunity," Scott said. "It's still kind of a little bit surreal there. Certainly, being a part of two staffs the last two summers, but also the identification stuff three to four years prior to that, puts you in a position to where you kind of know what you're looking for and you surround yourself with good people that also help you with that. They make sure the selections are what you need for that team to go off and compete and win this year."
Scott has led the Vikings since the 2020 season, leading the program to a 114-42 record. Verot's made back-to-back Final Four appearances in the last two seasons under his leadership, getting out of one of the toughest regions in the state. Verot's 32 wins earlier this year was a Lee County record, and second in Southwest Florida behind Naples' state championship season in 2009, when the Golden Eagles went 33-1.
"Anytime you put the jersey on before, it's a moment that takes your breath away at first," Scott said. "I think you truly realize that you're playing for something much bigger than any other team that you've been a part of before. You've got people with high expectations and high standards and things like that that have come before you.
"The names of people that have put on that jersey and that number specifically, it gives a little bit of a different feel. But once that game starts, it's still baseball and you're managing games to win the game in front of you. I think being here at Verot has helped me with that. There are expectations, there are standards, there are people that have come before you that have done some really, really good things."
FGCU's Tollett to don stars and stripes for first time
When Dave Tollett got the news he'd be coaching with Team USA, he had a laugh with former Charlotte Tarpon Matt LaPorta, whom he coached.
"Your jersey's moving over," Tollett joked with LaPorta, whose jersey is top and center in Tollett's house.
Tollett was named as the third base coach for Team Stripes in Team USA's annual Stars vs. Stripes series, which will be held June 29 to July 3 at various locations across North Carolina.
"For me, it's a dream come true," Tollett said. "To represent our country and wear the red, white, and blue is something I've always wanted to do. For a college coach, I think it's everybody's dream. We are excited about that. I wake up every morning, just counting down the days to get to Cary, North Carolina. I'm so excited."
Following training camp, which features 56 of the premier non-draft-eligible collegiate players in the country, the Stars staff will lead Team USA at the 45th USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Championship Series from July 8-13 at various venues across Japan. The Stripes staff will guide select players on a Collegiate National Team Prospects squad in a Fourth of July matchup with the Appalachian League Select Team in Kannapolis, North Carolina.
Tollett will join a Stripes coaching staff led by manager Jonathan Hernandez. The staff also includes Butch Chaffin (assistant coach), Michael Choice (first base coach), Dan Hartleb (bench/hitting coach), LaTroy Hawkins (pitching coach) and Joe McGowan (bullpen coach).
"You remember certain events in your life and where you were," Tollett said. "That phone call was one of the best phone calls I've ever gotten in my life. I can tell you where I was, what I was doing, who was across the table from me."
Follow Sports Reporter Alex Martin on X: @NP_AlexMartin. For the best sports coverage in Southwest Florida, follow @newspresssports and @ndnprepzone on Instagram.