Coaches named for U.S.-Japan all-star series

Here's the press release from Perfect Game USA in Cedar Rapids:

STEVE JAMES NAMED HEAD COACH FOR ALL-STAR CLASSIC WITH JAPAN

Ron Benich, Darrell Sinclair named assistant coaches

Jim Van Scoyoc named special assistant

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Steve James has been named the head coach of the Iowa Team for the Japan-Iowa All-Star Classic that will be held at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Tuesday, Aug. 17.

James works for Perfect Game USA as the Iowa League Director. He graduated from Cedar Rapids Washington in 2000 and helped the Warriors reach the semifinals of the Class 4A state baseball tournament in 1999 and 2000. He earned second-team honors for all-conference, all-metro and all-district. He pitched at Kirkwood Community College in 2001-02 and finished his career at Coe in 2003-04.

James has coached the Iowa Select Team for Perfect Game since 2005 and has coached dozens of Division I college players during that time. He also has worked with top prospects as a pitching instructor at Perfect Game.

Ron Benich, the Director of Instruction at Perfect Game, and Darrell Sinclair, an all-conference catcher at St. Clair Community College in Michigan, will serve as the assistant coaches for the Iowa team. Benich was an all-conference infielder at Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, graduating in 2003, and was a Preseason NAIA All-American. Sinclair, currently in private business, was a catcher in the Frontier Independent League and has worked at Mount Mercy and Perfect Game as an instructor and coach.

Jim Van Scoyoc, the Hall of Fame coach at Norway High School, hopes to serve as a special assistant for the Iowa Team. Van Scoyoc is scheduled for knee surgery on Aug. 6 and will attend the game on Aug. 17, if possible.

The ballgame will match a high school all-star team from Yamanashi, Japan, against an Iowa All-Star team that's being assembled by Perfect Game.

There will be one nine-inning game on Aug. 17 at Perfect Game Field at 7 p.m. There will be a special pre-game ceremony at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets cost $5 and may be purchased at the Kernels Ticket Office at the ballpark.

For more information and credentials, please contact:

Jim Ecker, Information Director

Perfect Game USA

Jecker@PerfectGame.org

319-432-2889 ©