CARY, N.C. – Texas Twelve head coach Lance Miles had heard about it, but hadn’t seen it for himself.

But when the skipper arrived to the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina, for the 15U National Team Championships North Carolina, everything he had heard was confirmed.

“This is the nicest park I’ve ever been to,” Miles said.

And now, he’s ready to watch his team play in it. The 15U National Team Championships North Carolina kicked off on Sunday afternoon, with 16 teams from across the country arriving in Cary for five days of competition.

Those who stand out will be selected by the USA Baseball Task Force to continue on the path to earning a spot on the 2021 15U National Team.

While the atmosphere is something that many 15-year-olds have not yet experienced, they will try to remain focused on what’s happening on the field, instead of the eyes on them in the stands.

“I think it’s good to start having scouts looking at you at a young age,” said Scorpions Marucci outfield and pitcher Tyler Hacker. “If you want to play at a high level for a long time, you’re always going to have those people watching you.”

The scouts and national team coaches will be bouncing around from field to field all week at the National Training Complex, searching for players who they believe can take the next step and represent their country on the baseball diamond.

That opportunity is not lost on the coaches, who are well-aware of the chance their players have to earn a spot on future national teams.

“There is no greater honor than having the opportunity to potentially represent your country,” said Scorpions head coach Michael Bradley. “Wearing the ‘U.S.A’ across your chest is the honor a lifetime and to be able to play and compete against the best competition is what it’s all about.”

All 16 teams will play three games over the first two days of the tournament before moving on to seeded pool play on Tuesday, June 29. The playoffs will then begin on Wednesday, and a champion will be crowned on Thursday.

The players are looking forward to competing with their teammates, while also having fun and trying to stand out.

“We just want to have fun and keep doing what we’ve been doing,” said Dulins Dodgers’ Ethan Ho. “We just have to continue to play loose.”

USA Prime infielder Ty Southisene – who was a member of the 2019 14U National Team Development Program (NTDP) – is looking forward to once again playing in front of the scouts and talent evaluators.

“All of the scouts come out here for a reason,” Southisene said. “They think we have potential and they think we have talent. We just have to win and do well in front of the scouts.”

Along with eight games played on Sunday afternoon, the players also went through a series of Prospect Development Pipeline (PDP) Performance Assessments. They underwent counter movement jumps, 30-yard sprints, and man-in-the-box evaluations, giving them an idea of where they stand with their teammates and competition.

“I was really looking forward to the testing,” said Hacker. “I’d never done those tests before and it’s good to see where you match up.”

With day one in the books, the players and coaches are anticipating returning to the National Training Complex on Monday for more game action.

And they surely won’t take this facility for granted.

“It’s almost like we’re at baseball heaven,” said Bradley.

To keep up with all of the action at 15U National Team Championships North Carolina, follow @USAChamps_NC on Twitter and check out USABaseball.com.