Being a part of the World Baseball Classic will definitely help expand baseball all around the Italic peninsula.

The notion of a World Baseball Classic is a tremendous idea. This isn't two U.S teams, but a true world championship. It's an opportunity to play against guys you've never faced in your life.

People have supported us. We haven't drawn as many fans as the U.S., Mexico or the Dominican Republic, but we have verified a growth in the sport's popularity.

With the World Baseball Classic, this year is a bit different. Our goal will be to win the tournament and after that I'll start thinking about the regular season.

Antioch has always had good baseball programs, and successful players seem to want to come back and help the next group. There's a lot of competition to be good here. It's kind of like football at De La Salle, where if you're not there working, someone else is going to take your spot.

If over time the World Baseball Classic works the way we hope it will, I think the next time there is a discussion it will be the IOC asking us to come back.