Jason Donald >> First Cat to play Olympic baseball

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On opposite sides of the globe, two former Arizona Wildcats found out life-changing news Wednesday.

Jason Donald, playing in the Eastern League All-Star Game in New Hampshire, was named to the U.S. Olympic baseball team. Kim Glass, training in Japan, was selected to the U.S. Olympic volleyball squad, pending United States Olympic Committee confirmation.

Donald, a UA shortstop from 2004 to 2006, is the first Arizona alumnus to make the baseball team.

Glass, 23, who played from 2002 to 2005, is the first former Wildcat to make the team in 12 years. Caren Kemner played on the 1988, 1992 and 1996 squads.

"It's quite an honor for us being the school that she attended," UA volleyball coach Dave Rubio said. "We're very proud of that fact.

"I always knew one day she could turn out to be one of the best players in the world. We're all excited."

UA baseball coach Andy Lopez spoke with Donald on Sunday — before he played in the Futures Game at Yankee Stadium — and told him he heard Donald would likely make the team.

"He just said, 'You're kidding,' " Lopez said. "I'm very happy for him. We're very proud of him."

Neither Glass — who played professionally in Turkey last year — nor Donald were available for comment Wednesday.

Donald, 23, is hitting .301 for the Reading (Pa.) Phillies, Philadelphia's Double-A affiliate.

"He's a great looking shortstop — great hands, good arm," said Davey Johnson, the U.S. manager. "His offensive numbers are outstanding. I like his makeup — he was cheerful. He was way up on our list to begin with."

Any player not on a major-league team's 25-man roster was eligible to make the team — with permission from their parent club. All but one roster spot on the baseball team was filled Wednesday, with the last expected before Tuesday's deadline.

Two former Sidewinders are joining Donald in Beijing.

Infielder Brian Barden, who played in Tucson from 2004 to 2007, is a member of the Memphis Redbirds, the St. Louis Cardinals' Triple-A squad. Johnson called the 27-year-old a "veteran player" that "gives us flexibility," because he can play every infield position.

Mike Koplove, who had two stints with the Sidewinders in this decade, is now a member of Los Angeles Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate, the Las Vegas 51s. Johnson said Koplove's "influence on the 'pen will be outstanding."

● Mountain View High School graduate Kim Severson was not on the list of eventing riders named to the U.S. Olympic team Tuesday.

The 34-year-old and her horse, Tipperary Liadhnan, were on the short list to make the team in eventing — an equestrian discipline that combines show jumping, dressage and riding a horse cross-country.

"I don't know what happened," she said Wednesday. "I'm very surprised. I'm not entirely upset about it. I think it's going to be a very hard trip on the horses."

Severson will still go to Beijing as a personal coach for Heidi White, who made the team. At the very least, it will be less stressful than 2004, when Severson won the silver medal in Athens.

"That's the upside," she said. "When I get down about it, I think, 'At least I don't have to worry about messing up for the rest of the team.' "

● Former UA basketball player Andre Iguodala was named to the USA Basketball Select team on Wednesday — essentially the practice partners for the Olympic basketball team. The swingman, who now plays for the Philadelphia 76ers, is one of 10 players who will scrimmage against the Olympic team next week in Las Vegas.

● USA Baseball general manager Bob Watson said Wednesday that baseball could return to the Olympics if Tokyo or Chicago receives the 2016 bid. Along with softball, baseball was voted out of the Olympics after the Beijing Games.

If baseball returns, Watson said it could be possible for major-leaguers to participate.

"Don't rule it out," he said. "Instead of a three-day break for the All-Star Game, you might instead have a four- or five-day break and get all the games in, in some way."