Josh Atomanczyk knows what it feels like to win gold. 
Before he was representing the South region at the 2019 National Team Identification Series (NTIS) Champions Cup at the USA Baseball National Training Complex, Atomanczyk was donning the red, white and blue as a member of the USA Baseball 12U National Team. 
Atomanczyk was a part of Team USA in 2017 at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-12 Baseball World Cup, where he helped the 12U National Team finish with an 8-1 record and the gold medal, it's third overall world championship. 
"At the stadium, nobody ever wanted [Team USA] to win," said Atomanczyk. "It was always everybody else against us. We fed off that pressure and used it to help us win gold."
Atomanczyk used that pressure to turn in a gem of a performance in Team USA's Super Round game of the WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup. He pitched the United States to a 6-3 win over Japan, throwing 5.1 innings, allowing just four hits and one earned run, while striking out seven. At the plate, he went 2-for-3 with a pair of home runs and five RBIs. Atomanczyk's performance in that game earned him Co-USA Baseball International Performance of the Year honors. 
The person he shared the award with? Marcus Stroman, who threw a masterpiece of his own, tossing a one-hitter over 6.1 innings to lead Team USA to its first-ever gold medal at World Baseball Classic in 2017.
"I remember finding out that I won the award and thinking that it could not be real. Marcus Stroman is somebody that I have always looked up to because I am not going to ever be a big guy," said Atomanczyk. "With him in the Major Leagues, he is proving that height does not measure heart, and that is something that I kind of live by now. So, knowing that we shared that award together is crazy."
Atomanczyk batted .381 with five home runs in total during the World Cup, and also threw 9 2/3 innings on the mound, posting a 1.23 ERA.
"Being able to go to Taiwan was such an incredible experience. I was so lucky and fortunate to be given that opportunity and I hope I get the chance to represent Team USA again someday soon."
Today, Atomanczyk is back at the National Training Complex, but this time, it is to represent his region.
"It means a lot to represent my region," said Atomanczyk. "It is a big honor. I feel like being at the NTIS has helped me get a lot of exposure and helped get coaches to learn my name, and I just have to give them something to remember me by. I do not care if they remember how good I am, I just want them to know about my character; I want to be the reason why people say 'he represents USA Baseball so well.'"
Atomanczyk is returning to the NTIS Champions Cup as a member of the 14U South Stripes team after playing for the 13U South Texas team last summer, where he was second on the team in batting average (.500) and helped them to a 3-1 record and a bronze medal.
"This year I am looking for [an NTIS Champions Cup gold medal]. It would be a big accomplishment for our region," said Atomanczyk.
USA Baseball Task Force member Josh Ellison has watched on as Atomanczyk has played an integral part on his teams over the past two summers.
"If he continues to develop both mentally and physically as a baseball player, he has the potential to one day contribute to a top-tier program, and if he continues to work hard every day, he may even play at the highest level," said Ellison. "The USA Baseball Task Force] is looking for the intangibles. Baseball IQ, the willingness and hunger to want to compete for your country. When you find those things, you find something special, because you know you are finding somebody who not only wants to obtain a gold medal, but he wants to one day, possibly wear a major league uniform and contribute to the game for years to come."
Aside from leading his region to gold, Atomanczyk also hopes to leave the 2019 NTIS Champions Cup with an invite to the 2020 USA Baseball 15U National Team Trials.
"I feel like I can compete with anybody [at the NTIS Champions Cup], and I just have to believe in myself and show that out on the field," said Atomanczyk. "I have always just tried to work harder than everybody else, and it would mean everything to me [to receive an invite to the USA Baseball 15U National Team Trials]. It has been a dream of mine ever since I was little, and to know that I [have won gold with USA Baseball], and to know that I have the chance to maybe do it again someday is what keeps me playing baseball."