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The 2011 USA Baseball National Team Identification Series (NTIS) will consist of three separate age groups and will feature a total of 756 players. The event will be held Sept. 9-11, 2011, and will be held at the USA Baseball National Training Complex and adjoining Thomas Brooks Park in Cary, N.C.

The North Atlantic's Region will be hosting tryouts across the region. The tryouts below is for a team to be selected as a representative for the Downstate NY Area. All the teams formed through tryouts in the region will advance to ECTB Stadium in August at the North Atlantic Regional Championship showcase. At this showcase, players will be selected as part of a 18 player roster to compete in Cary, North Carolina as Team North Atlantic in September. See North Atlantic Info packet when registering for complete tryout info.

The three age groups (17U, 15U, 13U) within the 2011 event will be divided based on 2012 National Team (18U, 16U, 14U) aspirations. As per international guidelines, players competing in the NTIS in the three age groups must conform to the following:

• 2011 17U NTIS: born on or after Jan. 1, 1994, for the 2012 18U NT
• 2011 15U NTIS: born on or after Jan. 1, 1996, for the 2012 16U NT
• 2011 13U NTIS: born on or after Jan. 1, 1998, for the 2012 14U NT

From these three separate age groups, USA Baseball will name a minimum of eight players to the 2012 18U National Team Trials (18U); a minimum of eight players to the 2012 16U National Team Trials (16U); and a minimum of 16 players to the 2012 14U National Team Trials. While the NTIS is designed to supplement the existing programming being done at the 18U and 16U age groups, it will constitute the primary identification opportunity for the 14U National Team.

Activities will start on Friday morning, Sept. 9, and will be scheduled to finish by mid-day on Sunday, Sept. 11. Each team within the 17U and 15U age groups will play a total of three nine-inning games, while the 13U age group will feature four seven-inning games; programming for all age groups will also include USA Baseball instruction and training. The NTIS will present all participating athletes not only with great national exposure but also with an opportunity to develop their skills through an unparalleled baseball experience.

Of the participating organizations in the event, 13 of the 14 teams within each age group will be organized on a "regionalized club team" basis, similar to the USA Baseball 16U Championships (formerly known at the USA Junior Olympic Baseball Championships). Existing baseball programs which have previously entered teams into the 16U Championships and the 2009 and 2010 NTIS have been selected to fill these slots with entry fees defraying some of the costs of the event and the 2012 USA Baseball 18U, 16U and 14U National Teams. As with the 16U Championships, these various baseball programs will be responsible for identifying and selecting 18-player teams which will participate in the event.

Similar to the USA Baseball Tournament of Stars, USA Baseball will select one of the 14 teams within each age group -- as "at-large teams." USA Baseball will rely on its National Member Organizations, existing events, and other entities, as well as its established athlete database to identify players for the two USA Baseball at-large teams in each age group (three total). As part of this initiative, USA Baseball will encourage the inclusion of all athletes when filling roster spots for the at-large teams.

NTIS Features:

• Identification opportunity for the 2012 USA Baseball 18U National Team Trials; all players must be born 1994 or later.
• Identification opportunity for the 2012 USA Baseball 16U National Team Trials; all players must be born 1996 or later.
• Primary identification opportunity for the 2012 USA Baseball 14U National Team Trials; all players must be born in 1998 or later.
• Individual skills testing and evaluation.
• 17U and 15U teams will play three nine-inning games.
• 13U teams will play four seven-inning games.
• To be announced guest speakers.
• Participants will receive a USA Baseball National Team Trials style uniform.
• College and university coaches and professional scouts will be in attendance.
• Event held at the USA Baseball National Training Complex -- the home of Team USA.

NTIS Schedule*:

Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011
1-5 p.m.: Team practices
7 p.m.: NTIS Symposium

Friday, Sept. 9, 2011
8 a.m.-9:30 p.m.: Individual skills testing/evaluation/games

Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011
8 a.m.-8 p.m.: Games

Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011
8 a.m.-4 p.m.: Games

*Schedule is tentative and is subject to change

How to get involved:

Online Registration is Here!

For more general information on the NTIS, please email .