This week at the National Training Complex (NTC) in Cary, North Carolina, the 14U National Team Identification Series (NTIS) Champions Cup began, with regional teams competing to sit atop the standings. On the Northwest Stripes squad resides 12U National Team alums Ty Glaus and Colton Byrnes, who are aiming to help put their region on the map by competing against some of the country's top talent.
The duo competed on the 2023 squad that participated in the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-12 Baseball World Cup Americas Qualifier in Aguascalientes, Mexico, and won the program’s fifth consecutive gold medal in international competition.
Both players were eager to get back to Cary and compete, with the Champions Cup being a great opportunity to represent their home with pride.
“It’s a great opportunity to represent my region of the Northwest,” said Byrnes. “Being able to play against other regions and their talent is fun.”
“It’s an honor to be back here because it’s a very selective group. It's nice to be able to play against all the top players in the country,” added Glaus.
They take great pride in being able to put on their region jersey. One of the main priorities Byrnes and Glaus mentioned is making sure they represent the region well and make the coaches proud.
“It feels great coming out here and making sure that the region gets represented the best way we can,” said Byrnes. “I want to be able to make the coaches proud, and it’s a great opportunity to come out here for USA Baseball.”
Glaus mentioned the process that it took to be able to represent the Northwest, going through multiple rounds of tryouts in a year-round process, trying to find the right guys to represent the region. That process includes a Section Prospect Identifier round and a State Prospect Combine round to evaluate each player, with the final round being Regional Team Selection. These players will then be considered for the selection for the two regional teams. Glaus also wants to let everyone know what Northwest baseball is all about, with their play on the field showing just how talented they are.
“It’s amazing being able to put on the jersey and help put Northwest on the map,” said Glaus. “With selections to the workout, and then training camps being how we got here, I think people don’t think about us, so I want to put us on the map.”
Having been a part of the 2023 12U National Team, Byrnes and Glaus know what it means to wear the U-S-A letters across their chest and compete on foreign soil. Having that experience under their belt, USA Baseball has a special place in their hearts.
“It’s pretty special being an alum; it’s the best baseball experience I've ever had,” said Byrnes. “The World Cup Qualifier in Mexico was a great experience; those are memories I'm going to have for life.”
Glaus is incredibly self-aware about how special USA Baseball is to him. Vividly remembering how the World Cup Qualifier went, bringing up games that had wild endings, and showing the meaningfulness the tournament displayed to him.
“It’s the greatest youth baseball organization in the world,” said Glaus. “It’s going to stay that way for a while. The qualifier was amazing too; it was a complete all-around experience, especially the last game against Venezuela to walk away with a gold medal.”
In the game against Venezuela, Team USA used an 11-run bottom of the sixth to tie the game. In extra innings, Team USA used a sac bunt with a throwing miscue to win in walk-off fashion, 29-28, in a Championship game thriller to advance to the World Cup. In the game, Glaus went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
Another thing Byrnes and Glaus have in common is having a former MLB player as their dad. Each of them takes great pride in having their dad as their hitting coach, knowing that they will always be there for them.
“We live in a remote area, but I don’t need a hitting coach because I have my dad,” said Byrnes. “He’s been there for me my whole life; he’s the best dad I could ask for.”
Having a few words – but powerful ones to describe his dad, Glaus wouldn’t change his situation for anything.
“He’s the best hitting coach in the world,” said Glaus. “To say that my hitting coach was the first person to hold me when I came into the world, it’s a pretty special situation to end up in.”
At the end of the 14U edition of the Champions Cup, 12 players will be awaiting next year's 15U National Team Training Camp, hoping they receive an invite thanks to their top performances. Byrnes and Glaus understand the selection process and know the work must speak for itself.
“To be selected to 15U National Team Training Camp would make me feel amazing,” said Byrnes. “It’s a bunch of hard work that would pay off and I know that I’ve worked hard for it; I would just be happy to be there.”
Glaus is looking forward to the possibility of making it, knowing he needs to get his game to the best it can be before then.
“It would make me feel great to make it to 15U National Team Training Camp,” stated Glaus. “It’s a good thing to work towards and get selected and know you’re there, it’s time to work and get your game to the best it can be and work towards going to Italy.”
Using experience gained from previous USA Baseball experiences from the 12U National Team, Byrnes and Glaus will channel everything they have to help the Northwest Stripes prevail at the NTIS Champions Cup. While looking ahead at what could be their next USA Baseball experience, with a possible invitation awaiting them to attend 15U National Team Training Camp.
