Travel baseball tournaments across the country present unique challenges in many different ways over the course of the action on the field. But what separates USA Baseball’s National Team Championships Arizona is hiding in plain sight, on and off the field.

The scorching summer in Arizona is a defining element of the tournament itself. With triple-digit temperatures a near daily occurrence, every inning becomes a test of endurance, focus, and preparation. Hydration plans become as critical as pitch counts. Shade becomes as valuable as run support. The sun doesn’t pick any favorites. For every player, coach and staff member alike, it becomes a proving ground that tests them all the same.

17U was the first group to hit the ground running in the desert, with CBA Victus taking the throne after an incredible 1-0, walk-off victory in the championship to kick tournament season off with a bang. Standout CBA player Landen Roelling knows it's no secret that the elements are quite the battle, but not just for him and his squad.

“You really do have to go the extra mile to battle the heat. But so does everybody else. Everyone else is doing it. Everyone else gets ready the same, wears the uniform, wakes up at the same time, they all bleed the same. So we're all struggling, but we just gotta fight through it and compete at the end of the day,” Roelling said.

Fast forward a week to the 16U championship game, where TB SoCal collected yet another gold medal in its trips to Champs Arizona. SoCal put together an extremely gritty effort throughout the week that saw the injury bug biting a few team members along the way. In addition to the injuries, mother nature posed a huge challenge to outfielder Jackson Alba, who was welcomed to the valley of the sun in rather rude fashion.

“We’re from California. I honestly had a really big difficulty adjusting to the heat. It's been pretty hard sometimes. But, there’s nowhere I'd rather be with my guys and we just keep battling it out together,” Alba said.

Now contrary to Alba’s struggles in the heat, fellow TB SoCal teammate Dylan Keliiholokai found himself thriving in the conditions.

“I absolutely love playing out here. I rake out here and just have so much fun. Like I said, I love this tournament as a whole. I'll play here over California 10 times out of 10,” Keliiholokai said.

Regardless of which age group comes to compete in Champs Arizona, USA Baseball’s Assistant Director of Baseball Operations Jeff Feltman and his staff come otherworldly prepared in terms of safety and keeping the players comfortable.

“Everyone knows it's Arizona in the summer, it’s going to be hot. Obviously we always encourage our players, our coaches and our staff to be hydrated and eat breakfast that day. We're always providing coolers of Gatorade, water and whatever is needed at all times. The heat is something that everyone here monitors, and we're on top of it throughout the whole time,” Feltman said.

In addition to Feltman and USA Baseball’s world class staff coming well prepared, coaches that come to town like TB SoCal’s Ryan Thompson know the elemental side of the tournament and relay the proper message.

“It's a different heat. We play in 100 degrees all the time, but we don't play in 108 degrees. I think we've done a really good job in the past years of just maintaining the message. Stay away from the bad food and just get some sleep. The kids do a really good job of taking care of their bodies. I know the parents have something to do with that too, so really it's a credit to everyone,” Thompson said.

While the heat may present challenges, the tournament is laid out to provide as minimal exposure to extreme heat as possible. Games are slated to begin at 7:00 a.m. MST, where temperatures usually hang around 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The final stretch of games begin around 12:30 p.m. MST, where temperatures begin to climb and just enter around 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

No matter the elements that will be battled, each team is in the same boat. Each player, each coach, each staff member are one in the same when it comes to enduring the desert sun.

As CBA Victus and TB SoCal have proved they had what it takes to reign supreme in the heat, they will be joined in the winners circle by a 15U champion to be crowned.

15U pool play is officially in the books, as players enjoyed a skills development day on Friday led by some of the best minds in baseball residing on USA Baseball’s Task Force.

Elimination play will begin with the round of 32 in Peoria and Surprise. First games will get underway with first pitch at 7:00 a.m. MST.

Fans and players alike are encouraged to follow the action through social media on @USABaseEvents or with pitch-by-pitch updates on GameChanger