Special Events

National Team Identification Series

USA Baseball is launching its first 14U program this summer. Like its 16U and 18U championship teams (formerly known as the USA Junior Olympic Baseball Championships), the players selected to the 14U USA team will compete in international events, play against top competition, and gain maximum exposure.

Rick Riccobono, Director of the 14U National Team, believes that players who participate in the USA Baseball program are granted an unparalleled baseball experience.

“The players we’ve had in our program have shown drastic improvement in their skill levels,” Riccobono said. “The kids get exposure at an earlier age to the game of baseball; they learn leadership on and off the field.”

In order to be selected to the 14U USA Baseball team, players are required to participate in a National Team Identification Series (NTIS). There are two NTIS events held over Labor Day weekend (8/29-8/31), where players compete for one of 24 roster spots. Twelve teams from across the country are represented. Ten are chosen from participating organizations and two by USA Baseball.

USA Baseball has awarded the Amateur Baseball Report as a participating organization, giving the ABR control of the selection process for five of the six eastern region teams and one western region team.

Click here to read more about ABR's relationship with USA Baseball.

ABR's regions are as follows:
Eastern Region:
1) Great Lakes ( MI,WI, IN, IL, IA, MN)
(contact ABR: bwabick@abwcompanies.com)
2) Midwest (NE, KS, OK, MO, AR)
(contact ABR: bwabick@abwcompanies.com)
3) Central Atlantic ( KY, TN, VA, NC, SC, WV)
(contact ECTB: terry.schadler@ectb.org)
4) North Atlantic ( Pa, Oh, NJ, De, MD, NY, CT, RI, MA, ME, VT, NH, PR)
(contact ECTB: terry.schadler@ectb.org)
5) Gulf Coast ( FL, LA, MS, AL, GA)
(contact ECTB: terry.schadler@ectb.org)

Western Region:
1) Texas
(contact Ron Mathis: ronm@texasusssa.org)

Eighteen players per team will be selected by the ABR to compete for a spot on the 14U National Team. The ABR hosts ID camps in 31 states across the country. Players are evaluated at these ID camps and, if selected, go on to the NTIS tryout.

“People are eager to get involved and expose their players to this type of competition,” Riccobono said.

Six teams will play at the NTIS event in California, another six at the NTIS even in Florida. Every team is guaranteed to play three nine-inning games.

Any player chosen who earns a roster spot on the 14U National Team Trials will
have all expenses paid for by USA Baseball. For more information on the USA Baseball’s NTIS series, please visit www.usabaseball.com .

2008 Great Lakes & Midwest Stars

Congratulations to all of ABR's 2008 Midwest & Great Lakes Stars Participants

2008 14U NTIS Great Lakes Stars 2008 14U NTIS Midwest Stars

*David Petrino (AR), Bryant Hodge (OK), Nolan Rogers (IN) and Dalton Dulin (TN)-alternate were named to the
2008 14U National Roster

Ryan Spaulding's ABR Experience (Member of 2008 Great Lakes Stars)

"Anderson
I started the ABR experience at Anderson University in Anderson, Indiana. Anderson is just north of Indianapolis and is just a short drive from home, which was good. This was going to be my first time on a University field and I was nervous to say the least, but I did have several of my teammates there which helped. I didn’t know what to expect exactly, but I knew that I would be under the microscope and everything I did would be watched very closely. After warming up, taking ground balls, hitting, pitching, and running I hoped that what I had showed would be enough to make the second round. Now, it was just time to wait and see………

Disney – ELITE 24
Because of my team, Indiana Prospects 13U, made the USSSA Elite 24 tournament at Walt Disney World, I was not able to attend the next round at Crystal Lake, Illinois. Myself, other teammates, and players from different teams were going to be evaluated during the Elite 24 games. This is a great tournament to be a part of and I never really knew when ABR scouts were evaluating me. That was probably a good thing as I was just trying my best to help my team advance as far as we could go and really didn’t get nervous about being evaluated.

My team finished 5^th in the Elite 24 which was great for a team from Indiana, and as we drove back home I wondered if I would make it to Jupiter, Florida for the next round. It was time to wait again………

Jupiter, Florida
Wow, I made it to the next round in Jupiter, Florida with the Great Lakes team. It took awhile for this to sink in and realize I was going back to Florida and compete against some of the best players in America. It really helped that my teammates Cody Hobbs and Nolan Rogers would also be in Florida with me.

Because of work, my parents were not able to go to Jupiter with me. My aunt, Sally Rinker, and her good friend, Jo Ellison, flew with me and I am thankful that they were able to go. It was great to fly to Florida this time, the drive from Florida to Indiana is way to long!

The pressure to perform was now greater than ever before, but I just kept reminding myself to play the game I love to the best of my ability. If I did that, no matter what the outcome for Team USA, that would be good enough.

After the workouts and games were over, I knew that I could compete at this level and was hopeful to be one of nine chosen for Team USA.

When the team was announced, I was not fortunate enough to be one of the nine chosen for Team USA and to be honest that was hard to hear and understand. But after some time, I realized that I am a better player for going through this experience, I leaned some valuable information, and I know that I made some good impressions with the ABR coaches and Team USA staff.

Though I did not make the team, it was great to hear that my teammate and fellow Hoosier, Nolan Rogers, did make the team. Great job and Good Luck Nolan!!"

Sam Santa Maria's ABR Experience (member of 2008 Great Lakes Stars)

"In a word, I would say that my experience in Jupiter was AMAZING because I learned so much about myself as a player and an individual.

My trip to Jupiter actually started with a tryout in my hometown. From there, I was asked to attend the ABR Great Lakes Regional tryout where I competed against the best players from six states for one of the 18 roster spots. I was honored and excited when I got the call that I had been selected for the Great Lakes Stars team. When we arrived down in Jupiter, I attended the opening ceremony with 107 other players from the eastern half of the U.S. The guest speakers included the USA Baseball coaching staff and the MLB Scouting director for Florida. Each of them had their perspective on what it means to play baseball, but they all had the same message - Respect the Game and Make Good Grades! It was a great experience to meet the other ballplayers from all over the country that love the game as much as I do.

After the opening ceremonies, they broke us down into teams and we were each asked to showcase our abilities in the 60 yd dash, infielding and catcher pop times. The next day, Saturday, began hot and muggy and our team took the field against a very solid team from the Gulf Coast region. The games were my favorite part because we were playing some of the best baseball I've ever played. As a catcher it was great to work with the caliber of pitchers that were on our team. I will admit that it was a little intimidating at first, but as soon as I took the field, the butterflies subsided and I played "my game"....

...What I learned is that being good at your position is not enough - at the next level, they are looking for a complete athlete. So, I have already started my workout regiment and I will come back next season bigger, faster and stronger. This is the first time that I have tried out for a team that I did not make and after I worked through my initial disappointment I realized that I got just what I needed - feedback about what I do well and what I need to work on. It has always been my dream to play college and professional baseball and I'm determined to leave nothing on the table. I am so glad I made the Great Lakes Stars team and had the chance to compete..."