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Making a play

New baseball tourney puts fresh talent in limelight

Edgar Gonzalez

Arizona Diamondbacks

Step up to the plate, because baseball is upon us, and a new tournament is pitching the spirit of the sport in a very international way.And while the promotion of the event places emphasis on playing for pride and country, the truth is this is a chance for players to shine who haven't had a chance yet, especially players from countries not readily affiliated with American teams.

The World Baseball Classic, a tournament in which players compete for their home countries' teams, will begin competition rounds at five different sites: Tokyo Dome, Tokyo; Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico; The Ballpark at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex, Orlando, Fla.; Chase Field and Scottsdale Stadium.  The semifinals and final game will take place at PETCO Park in San Diego.

The rounds begin March 3, will go to semifinals March 18 and end with a final game on March 20. Arizona will host several of the games, as well as a March 4 exhibition game with Mexico.

Arizona Diamondback's pitcher Edgar Gonzalez, originally from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, will take the mound for Mexico in Pool B against teams from Canada, South Africa and the United States. (No other Diamondback player was named to the starting lineup for Team USA.)

Gonzalez pitched once for the D-Backs last season in a loss to Kansas City before returning to play for the club's AAA team, the Tucson Sidewinders.

Team USA will call Chase Field its home camp, but will also play an exhibition game against the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium on March 5. The team then will open its Round 1 play against Mexico at Chase Field.

On March 7 and 8, South Africa takes on Canada and Mexico, respectively, at Scottsdale Stadium. Team USA also will play South Africa at Scottsdale on March 10.

In addition, two Asian qualifying teams will play exhibition games against the Seattle Mariners (March 8) and San Diego Padres (March 10) at the Peoria Sport Complex.

Other countries competing in Round 1 include China, Chinese Taipei, Japan and Korea (Pool A); Cuba, Netherlands, Panama, Puerto Rico (Pool C); and Australia, Italy, Dominican Republic and Venezuela (Pool D).

Single-game tickets ranging from $10 to $50 are being sold by phone at (602) 514-8400 or (888) 777-4664 outside the Phoenix area or at Chase Field or Tucson Electric Park box offices. For information, visit www.worldbaseballclassic.com or www.diamondbacks.com