Not long ago, Ashanthy Marcano was attending USA Baseball events at the National Training Complex alongside her younger brother. This week, the Fayetteville native is back on those same fields competing for a spot on the Women’s National Team roster.

On Friday, she’ll have the opportunity to do so in front of her hometown community when Women’s National Team Training Camp takes the field at Segra Stadium in Fayetteville.

The journey to Training Camp began with family. What began as a way to follow her two younger brothers onto the field has grown into an opportunity few high school athletes ever experience.

As one of the youngest players at Training Camp and the lone North Carolinian in attendance, Marcano is representing her home state while pursuing her dream of wearing “U-S-A” across her chest.

“It means a lot,” she said. “I’m the only one from North Carolina, so I get to represent my state.”

For Marcano, baseball has always been a family affair.

Growing up as the oldest of three, she first picked up the sport after watching her two younger brothers take the field.

“I kind of felt left out,” she said. “I was like, ‘I want to join and play with them too.’ ”

Marcano began playing Little League while her family lived in Florida before moving to Fayetteville in 2019. As she got older, she faced a decision familiar to many young women in baseball: continue playing baseball or switch to softball.

She never considered leaving the game behind.

“I had to make the choice whether to continue to play or stop playing and switch to softball,” Marcano explained. “I said, ‘No, I want to keep doing this.’ ”

That decision eventually led her to USA Baseball.

After moving to North Carolina, Marcano became familiar with the USA Baseball National Training Complex through her youngest brother, who participated in events hosted at the complex. Through those experiences, she gained a firsthand look at the opportunities USA Baseball provides young athletes.

Before then, she didn’t even know a Women’s National Team existed.

Once she learned about the program, however, her goals changed.

“It’s always been the dream,” Marcano said. “Since the day that I found out there was a Women’s National Team, that’s always been the main goal.”

Years later, Marcano finds herself at Women’s National Team Training Camp competing alongside 39 of the nation’s top players. The opportunity is especially meaningful given her connection to USA Baseball and the complex she visited growing up.

“We used to come here all the time,” she said. “It was like, ‘Wow, now it’s my turn.’ “

A 2025 Women’s National Team Development Program participant, Marcano is now chasing a spot on the national team roster and the opportunity to represent both her country and her home state.

Though she is still pursuing that goal, Marcano hopes her journey can serve as an example for young girls who dream of playing baseball at the highest level.

“A lot of people are going to tell you that it’s just a fantasy,” she said. “So what? Let it be a fantasy, but continue to strive for that fantasy.”

“Never have that doubt in your mind,” she added. “Just keep going.”

Marcano and Women’s National Team Training Camp will play game two of the week on Friday evening at Segra Stadium in Fayetteville, North Carolina, with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m.