USA Baseball 2009
National Team Identification Series
MountainWest Stars Ball Clubs
The 2009 USA Baseball National Team Identification Series (NTIS) will consist of three separate age groups and will feature a total of 648 players. The event will be held September 18 – September 20, 2009, and will be held at the USA Baseball National Training Complex and adjoining Thomas Brooks Park in Cary, North Carolina.
The three age groups (17U, 15U, 13U) within the 2009 event will be divided based on 2010 National Team (18U, 16U, 14U) aspirations. The 15U NTIS which includes players born in both 1994 and 1995 will be used for identifying players for the 2010 16U National Team and will now also serve as the primary identification vehicle for the 2009 14U National Team. This update was made following unexpected changes in the 14U Pan Am international schedule. As per international guidelines, players competing in the NTIS in the three age groups must conform to the following:
• 2009 17U NTIS: born on or after January 1, 1992 for the 2010 18U NT
• 2009 15U NTIS: born on or after January 1, 1994 for the 2010 16U NT
• 2009 15U NTIS: born on or after January 1, 1995 for the 2009 14U NT
• 2009 13U NTIS: born on or after January 1, 1996 for the 2010 14U NT
From these three separate age groups, USA Baseball will name a minimum of eight players to the 2010 Tournament of Stars (18U); a minimum of eight players to the 2010 16U National Team Trials (16U); a minimum of 24 players to the 2009 14U National Team Trials (14U) and a minimum of 24 players to the 2010 14U National Team Trials. While the NTIS is designed to supplement the existing programming being done at the 18U and 16U age groups, it will constitute the primary identification opportunity for the 14U National Team beginning with the 2009 team.
Activities will start on Friday morning, September 18, and will be scheduled to finish by mid-day on Sunday, September 20. Each team within the 17U and 15U age groups will play a total of three 9-inning games, while the 13U age group will feature four 7-inning games; programming for all age groups will also include USA Baseball instruction and training. The NTIS will present all participating athletes not only with great national exposure but also with an opportunity to develop their skills through an unparalleled baseball experience.
Of the participating organizations in the event, ten of the twelve teams within each age group will be organized on a “regionalized club-team” basis, similar to the USA Baseball 16U Championships (formerly known at the USA Junior Olympic Baseball Championships). Existing baseball programs which have previously entered teams into the 16U Championships and the 2008 NTIS have been selected to fill these slots with entry fees defraying some of the costs of the event and the 2010 USA Baseball 18U, 16U and 14U National Teams. As with the 16U Championships, these various baseball programs will be responsible for identifying and selecting 18-player teams which will participate in the event.
Similar to the USA Baseball Tournament of Stars, USA Baseball will select two of the twelve teams within each age group – as “at-large teams.” USA Baseball will rely on its National Member Organizations, existing events, and other entities, as well as its established athlete database to identify players for the two USA Baseball at-large teams in each age group (six total). As part of this initiative, USA Baseball will encourage the inclusion of all athletes when filling roster spots for the at-large teams.
NTIS Features:
• Identification opportunity for the 2010 USA Baseball Tournament of Stars (18U); all players must be born 1992 or later.
• Identification opportunity for the 2010 USA Baseball 16U National Team Trials; all players must be born 1994 or later.
• Primary identification opportunity for the 2009 USA Baseball 14U National Team Trials; all players must be born in 1995 or later.
• Primary identification opportunity for the 2010 USA Baseball 14U National Team Trials; all players must be born in 1996 or later.
• Individual skills testing and evaluation.
• 17U and 15U teams will play three nine (9) inning games.
• 13U teams will play four seven (7) inning games.
• To be announced guest speakers.
• Participants will receive a USA Baseball hat and gift bag.
• College and university coaches, and professional scouts will be in attendance.
• Event held at the USA Baseball National Training Complex – the home of Team USA.
NTIS Schedule*:
Thursday, September 17, 2009
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.: Team Practices
5:30 p.m.: Opening Ceremony
Friday, September 18, 2009
8:00 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.: Individual Skills Testing/Evaluation/Games
Saturday, September 19, 2009
8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.: Games
Sunday, September 20, 2009
8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.: Games
(*schedule is tentative and is subject to change)
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