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2024 OFFICIAL EVENT PROGRAM
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ON BEHALF OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNING BODY FOR BASEBALL IN THE UNITED STATES, WE ARE HONORED AND PRIVILEGED TO WELCOME YOU TO THE ELEVENTH ANNUAL USA BASEBALL NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL INVITATIONAL, PRESENTED BY THE GREATER RALEIGH SPORTS ALLIANCE!
You should all be proud to have been invited to this event as it solidifies the hard work and commitment everyone involved in your program has given to earn this national recognition. We firmly believe in the competitive and personal experiences of playing high school baseball and are thrilled to continue to champion such a prestigious event that honors the country's top prep programs and baseball players.
Did you know the National Training Complex has hosted some of the best Major League Baseball players during their amateur careers? To name a few: players like Gerrit Cole, Bryce Harper, Francisco Lindor, Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, and Mike Trout have played here. The National Training Complex is a place that welcomes, develops, and helps launch young, talented baseball players to the next level, and USA Baseball takes that responsibility seriously.
As you enter the National Training Complex, you will notice the latest investment in developing young baseball talent in our country has been completed in what is our new offices and an indoor high-performance training center. As the organization continues to transform and grow, this project is a testament to our commitment to the game of baseball in the United States.
USA Baseball takes pride in bringing first-class competition to the field, so we wish you all the best of luck as you strive to win this national championship. The experiences the athletes, coaches, and families will go through during this tournament will create memories and present numerous challenges and opportunities that will stay with you forever. We hope your time in Cary playing in the National High School Invitational is a highlight of your high school career that you will fondly remember.
Once again, welcome to the 2024 USA Baseball National High School Invitational! We are excited to host four days play amongst 16 of the nation’s top team, and we cannot wait for you to get here and show us what you've got.
Yours in baseball,
Paul V. Seiler Executive Director/CEO USA Baseball@USABaseball
@USABaseball
@USABEvents
@USABaseball
The National High School Invitational is proud to be a FULL COMPLIANCE Pitch Smart event.
For more information, visit PitchSmart.org
Wednesday, April 10, will mark the 11th edition of the National High School Invitational presented by the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance and the Town of Cary. Beginning in 2012, the NHSI has continuously hosted the best high school programs in the nation, welcoming future big league All-Stars to the USA Baseball National Training Complex on a yearly basis.
This year’s field boasts two former champions: defending champion Huntington Beach and three-time winner Orange Lutheran. Between the two schools, the Oilers and Lancers have won five of the last six editions of the event. In addition to last year’s title, Huntington Beach won its first trophy in 2016 while Orange Lutheran won the event in 2017, 2018, and 2019.
Four teams in this year’s NHSI field are coming off state championship seasons in 2023, as Bishop Gorman (NV), Casteel (AZ), Farragut (TN), St. John’s Country Day (FL) all captured titles at their respective levels.
This year’s NHSI field features 18 players and nine coaches who have been a part of a past national team, which is a combined 27 USA Baseball alums. Orange Lutheran leads the way with seven alums, while Corona has five, Harvard-Westlake has three, Bishop Gorman, Casteel, and Puyallup each have two, and Chaparral, Hagerty, Huntington Beach, Key West, St. John’s College, and Trinity Christian have one apiece.
One-hundred and forty-four players at the 2024 NHSI are committed to play college baseball, which averages out to nearly nine players a team. Seventy-one of those players are committed to play in a Power Five conference. Farragut leads all teams in the field with 17 college commits, while Orange Lutheran and St. John’s College each have 14 players committed to play in college.
Through 10 years of the NHSI, a combined 180 participants have been selected in the Major League Baseball Draft. Nine picks in the 2023 MLB Draft participated in last year’s event, including Noble Meyer (10), Ralphy Velazquez (23), and Adrian Santana (31) who were selected in the first round.
This year’s field boasts nine teams that were featured in the top 30 of MaxPreps’ Preseason Poll: No. 5 Corona, No. 11 Orange Lutheran, No. 12 Bishop Gorman, No. 13 Harvard-Westlake, No. 14 Farragut, No. 16 Huntington Beach, No. 20 Chaparral, and No. 30 Casteel.
Nine teams in this year’s NHSI field have participated in a past edition of the event. This year will mark the seventh time Huntington Beach and Orange Lutheran have competed in the NHSI, which is a tournament record. Along with Huntington Beach, Bishop Gorman and Hagerty will return to Cary for the second consecutive year. Additionally, St Johns Country Day will make its second appearance in three years after debuting in 2022, while Farragut and Puyallup return to the field for the first time since 2015. Trinity Christian Academy is set to make its third appearance after competing in 2017, and HarvardWestlake will return to Cary for the fourth time as they participated in 2012, 2013, and 2019.
Programs from seven different states are represented at this year’s NHSI. California and Florida each have four representatives to lead the field, while Arizona and North Carolina feature two teams. Nevada, Tennessee and Washington each boast one team in this year’s tournament. Additionally, the District of Columbia will be represented the first time ever when St. John’s College High School makes its NHSI debut on April 10.
CARY, N.C. – The 2024 calendar year marks the 11th edition of the National High School Invitational presented by the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance and the Town of Cary. Play begins on Wednesday, April 10, at the National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina, and will conclude with the crowning of a champion on Saturday, April 13.
Once again, this year’s field is loaded with talent, featuring two past NHSI champions, four 2023 state champions, 144 college commits, and 26 USA Baseball alums. Read up about this year’s field.
Four teams in this year’s NHSI field are coming off state championship seasons in 2023, as Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.), Casteel (Queen Creek, Ariz.), Farragut (Farragut, Tenn.), and St. John’s Country Day (Orange Park, Fla.) all captured titles at their respective class levels.
This year’s field boasts two former champions, defending champion Huntington Beach (Huntington Beach, Calif.) and three-time winner Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.). Between the two schools, the Oilers and Lancers have won five of the last six editions of the event. In addition to last year’s title, Huntington Beach won its first trophy in 2016 while Orange Lutheran won the event in 2017, 2018, and 2019. The 2024 event will mark the seventh time both teams have participated in the NHSI, which is the most appearances of any team in the tournament.
Nine schools have played in at least one past edition of the NHSI, while seven schools will make their NHSI debuts on April 10. Along with Huntington Beach and Orange Lutheran, Bishop Gorman, Farragut, Hagerty (Oviedo,
Fla.), Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.), Puyallup (Puyallup, Wash.), St. Johns Country Day, and Trinity Christian (Jacksonville, Fla.) are all past participants.
Apex Friendship (Apex, N.C.), Casteel, Chaparral (Scottsdale, Ariz.), Corona (Corona, Calif.), Key West (Key West, Fla.), St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.), and Wesleyan Christian (High Point, N.C.), will join the 16team field for the first time.
St. John’s College’s upcoming debut will mark the first time that the District of Columbia has been represented in the NHSI.
Hagerty senior Adam Ciccone and Huntington Beach junior Tyler Bellerose were named to last year’s NHSI AllTournament Team and are back for more in 2024. Both had stellar performances across the week at the plate or on the mound last year, and will just a few of the many players to keep an eye on during the event.
Ciccone turned in a .667 batting average with eight hits, nine total bases, two runs, and two RBIs in four games. Bellerose tossed nine innings and compiled a 1.00 ERA while fanning eight batters across two appearances. In the championship game last year, he surrendered one earned run in six innings en route to being tabbed the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
The NHSI is known for bringing the nation’s best high school talent to Cary, North Carolina. Seven teams in this year’s field were featured MaxPreps’ Preseason
Top 25 Poll:
• No. 5 Corona
• No. 11 Orange Lutheran
• No. 12 Bishop Gorman
• No. 13 Harvard-Westlake
• No. 14 Farragut
• No. 16 Huntington Beach
• No. 20 Chaparral
One-hundred and forty-four players participating in the 2024 NHSI are committed to play college baseball, which averages out to nearly nine players per team. Seventyone of those players are committed to play in a Power Five conference. Farragut leads all teams in the field with 17 college commits, while Orange Lutheran and St. John’s College each have 14 players committed to play in college.
The NHSI is not only guaranteed to showcase the top future collegiate talent, but has also had 180 past participants selected in the Major League Baseball Draft. Nine picks in the 2023 MLB Draft competed in last year’s event, including Noble Meyer (10), Ralphy Velazquez (23), and Adrian Santana (31) who were selected in the first round.
This year’s NHSI field features 18 players and eight coaches who have been a part of a past national team, which is a combined 26 USA Baseball alums. Orange Lutheran leads the way with seven alums, while Corona has five, Harvard-Westlake has three, Casteel and Puyallup each have two, and Bishop Gorman, Chaparral, Huntington Beach, Key West, St. John’s College, and Trinity Christian have one apiece.
The NHSI will serve as a reunion for several past Team USA players and coaches. Multiple members from 12 past national teams, including six teams which won gold in their respective international competition, are participating in this year’s NHSI:
• 1992 18U – Dave Demarest (Corona (assistant coach)), Kevin Gibbs (St. John’s College (assistant coach))
• 1994 CNT – Gibbs, Doug Mientkiewicz (Key West (assistant coach))
• 2017 12U! – RJ Farrell (Orange Lutheran (assistant coach)), Bryce Rainer (Harvard-Westlake), Ben Reiland (Orange Lutheran)
• 2018 12U! – Farrell, Kailand Halstead (Puyallup), Brady Strohm (Orange Lutheran), Marc Wiese (Puyallup (assistant coach))
• 2019 12U – Farrell, Josiah Hartshorn (Orange Lutheran), Weise
• 2019 15U! – Jared Halpert (Harvard-Westlake (assistant coach)), Reiland
• 2021 15U – Halpert (manager), Mason Russell (Casteel), Ethan Schiefelbein (Corona), Josh Springer (Corona)
• 2022 12U! - Farrell, Troy Gerlach (Chaparral (assistant coach))
• 2022 15U! – Brady Ebel (Corona), Ryan Harwood (Casteel), Brady Murrietta (Orange Lutheran), James Tronstein (Harvard-Westlake)
• 2022 18U! – Talan Bell (Hagerty), Eric Borba (Orange Lutheran (assistant coach))
• 2023 15U – Trey Ebel (Corona), Brady Harris (Trinity Christian), Tronstein
2023 18U – Derek Curiel (Orange Lutheran), Burke-Lee Mabeus (Bishop Gorman), Rainer, Schiefelbein
! denotes that the team won a gold medal in its respective international competition
All games of the 2024 NHSI will be streamed on USABaseball.TV (subscribers must create a FREE account) and live scoring will be available on GameChanger. Stay up to date on the latest news of the 2024 NHSI at USABaseball.com or via @USABEvents on Twitter/X and Instagram.
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PHOTOGRAPHY FROM THIS EVENT
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Talan Bell (Hagerty) was a member of the 2022 18U National Team which won a gold medal at the World Baseball Softball Classic (WBSC) U-18 Baseball World Cup Americas Qualifier. He played in seven games as an outfielder and made two appearances on the mound. He compiled a 0.00 ERA in his two appearances on the bump, which was highlighted by three shutout innings against Panama in the Super Round opener.
Orange Lutheran Head Coach Eric Borba is a three-time national team coach for USA Baseball. He made his coaching debut in 2014 as an assistant with the 12U National Team, then served as manager for the 12U squad in 2016 before helping guide the 2022 18U National Team to a gold medal at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup Americas Qualifier.
Derek Curiel (Orange Lutheran) started all nine games for Team USA at the 2023 WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup in center field. He posted a .240 average with four RBIs and a tournament-high six stolen bases. His World Cup performance was highlighted by a 2-for-4 outing against Japan and a 2-RBI performance in Super Round play versus Korea.
Corona Assistant Coach and American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Famer Dave Demarest was an assistant coach for the 1992 18U National Team which earned a silver medal at the Junior World Championships.
Brady Ebel (Corona) played a key role in the 2022 15U National Team’s path to gold at the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup. He started in eight games, primarily at third base, and batted. 400 with eight RBIs and 10 runs scored. He reached base safely in all eight appearances via a walk, hit, or hit-by-pitch, and turned in a pair of multi-RBI outings against Japan and Cuba.
Trey Ebel (Corona) donned the stars and stripes for the 2023 15U National Team when it went undefeated in a friendship series with the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. He played in four games at first base and went 1-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs.
Chaparral Assistant Coach Josh Ellison will be making his Team USA debut this summer when he serves as an assistant on the 12U National Team coaching staff. Ellison has spent the last several years involved with USA Baseball at its events on a developmental and identification side.
Orange Lutheran Assistant Coach RJ Farrell is a five-time coach for the 12U National Team. His debut was as an assistant with the 2017 squad when the stars and stripes won a World Cup title. He was also an assistant for the 2018 team which won a gold medal at the COPABE U-12 Pan American Championships and helped the U.S. qualify for the 2019 WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup, which he was also an assistant for. In 2021 and 2022 he was the manager for both teams and led the 2022 squad to a gold medal at the WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup.
Chaparral Head Coach Troy Gerlach has guided three separate teams to gold medals in World Cup competition. His first gold-medal run came in 2018 when he was an assistant for the 15U National Team at the WBSC U-15
Baseball World Cup, and then won back-to-back gold medals with the 2022 and 2023 12U squads at the WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup. He was an assistant coach in 2022 and was the manager in 2023.
Key West Assistant Coach Kevin Gibbs played for Team USA twice. He first starred on the 18U National Team in 1992 which earned a silver medal at the Junior World Championships, and then played for the Collegiate National Team in 1994.
Jared Grindlinger (Huntington Beach) was a part of the 12U National Team in 2021 and batted .714 (5-for-7) with a home run and three RBIs in three games. He finished tied for second on the team in runs and hits with five apiece. Additionally, he pitched two scoreless games with three strikeouts against the Texas Scrappers.
Brady Harris (Trinity Christian) started all five games for the 2023 15U National Team in its friendship series with the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. He led the team with a .571 batting average (min. two games), scored six runs and tallied eight RBIs.
Harvard-Westlake Head Coach Jared Halpert has been involved with USA Baseball on numerous occasions, including as a coach for the 2019 and 2021 15U National Teams. He was on the staff as an assistant coach in 2019 when the U.S. won the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup Americas Qualifier, and then was the manager in 2021.
Kailand Halstead (Puyallup) was a part of the 2018 12U National Team which won a gold medal at the COPABE U-12 Pan American Championships. He started all nine games and went 12-for-18 for a .667 batting average, and led the team with 16 RBIs and 21 runs scored.
Josiah Hartshorn (Orange Lutheran) started in six games for the 12U National Team in 2019 at the WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup. He registered eight hits, scored eight runs, and went a perfect 7-for-7 on stolen base attempts. Additionally, he hit a home run against Italy and led the team with three doubles.
Ryan Harwood (Casteel) played a key role in the 15U National Team’s WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup title in 2022. He compiled a .417 batting average in 12 at-bats and made four appearances on the mound where he posted a spotless 0.00 ERA and struck out nine batters.
Burke-Lee Mabeus (Bishop Gorman) was a member of the 2023 18U National Team which competed at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup in Tainan, Taiwan. He made four starts and drew a walk in 10 plate appearances.
Doug Mientkiewcz
Key West Assistant Coach Doug Mientkiewcz played for Team USA twice. His first time playing for the stars and stripes was in 1994 with the Collegiate National Team, and then he was a part of the 2000 Professional Team which won a gold medal at the Sydney Olympics.
Brady Murrietta (Orange Lutheran) made seven starts in eight appearances for the 15U National Team at the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup in 2022. He tallied six hits, four RBIs, and two runs scored to help Team USA secure a gold medal at the event.
Bryce Rainer (Harvard-Westlake) is a two-time USA Baseball alum as he played for the 12U National Team in 2017 and the 18U National Team in 2023. He helped the 12U squad win gold at the WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup and has made a combined 13 appearances, including six on the bump, across the two events.
Ben Reiland (Orange Lutheran) is a two-time gold medalist for Team USA. He represented the stars and stripes with the 12U National Team which won a World Cup title 2017, and was a part of the 2019 15U National Team which won the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup Americas Qualifier. He made a combined 11 appearances and tallied 20 hits, 17 runs, and 10 RBIs across the two events.
Mason Russell (Casteel) played for the 15U National Team in 2021. He made two appearances, including one start on the mound, and tossed a combined 4.2 innings.
Ethan Schiefelbein (Corona) is a two-time national team alum, having earned a spot on the 2021 15U National Team and the 2023 18U National Team. With the 15U squad he pitched in two games and led the team in strikeouts with seven. With the 18U squad he made two starts on the mound and compiled a 0.78 ERA with a team-high 12 strikeouts at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup.
Josh Springer (Corona) was a member of the 2021 15U National Team. He batted .667 (6-for-9) with four RBIs in a five-game Stars vs. Stripes series.
Brady Strohm (Orange Lutheran) tossed a combined six scoreless innings and earned two wins on the mound in the 2018 12U National Team’s gold medal run at the COPABE U-12 Pan American Championships. He gave up just one hit in a complete game shutout against Nicaragua and produced a pinch-hit single in his only at-bat of the tournament against Honduras.
James Tronstein (Harvard-Westlake) is a two-time 15U National Team alum. He helped Team USA secure a gold medal at the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup in 2022 and was a part of the 2023 squad that went undefeated in a friendship series against the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. He has played in a combined 14 games for the stars and stripes, compiling a .363 batting average and scoring 22 runs across both events.
Puyallup Head Coach Mark Weise has been involved with USA Baseball’s 12U National Team in past years, as he was an assistant coach for the 2018 and 2019 squads. The 2018 team won a gold medal at the COPABE U-12 Pan American Championships which helped the U.S. qualify for the 2019 WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup.
Players and coaches who were on a past national team together:
• 1992 18U – Dave Demarest, Kevin Gibbs
• 1994 CNT – Kevin Gibbs, Doug Mientkiewicz
• 2017 12U! – RJ Farrell, Bryce Rainer, Ben Reiland
• 2018 12U! – RJ Farrell, Kailand Halstead, Brady Strohm, Marc Wiese
• 2019 12U – RJ Farrell, Josiah Hartshorn, Marc Weise
• 2019 15U! – Jared Halpert, Ben Reiland
• 2021 15U – Jared Halpert, Mason Russell, Ethan Schiefelbein, Josh Springer
• 2022 12U! – RJ Farrell, Troy Gerlach
• 2022 15U! – Brady Ebel, Ryan Harwood, Brady Murrietta, James Tronstein
• 2022 18U! – Talan Bell, Eric Borba
• 2023 15U – Trey Ebel, Brady Harris, James Tronstein
• 2023 18U – Derek Curiel, Burke-Lee Mabeus, Bryce Rainer, Ethan Schiefelbein
! denotes that the team won a gold medal in its respective international competition
Over the last decade, a bid to the National High School Invitational has become much more than an entry into a prep baseball tournament. A 16-team invitation-only event, there is nothing else like it in the high school realm. Sure, there are numerous high school tournaments hosted around the country, but none quite stack up to the value that the NHSI provides to its participants.
The NHSI has become an event that teams strive to put on their calendars. Not only does it give schools the status of being one of the best teams in high school baseball, but the experience on and off the field that the NHSI provides year in, and year out is unmatched.
What could be better than playing at a facility that has had big leaguers walk its grounds and on fields that are kept in immaculate condition? Not to mention playing against the best high school teams in the nation while gaining exposure to Major League Baseball scouts and college coaches? It’s this combination which creates an experience that keeps past participants desiring to come back year after year.
As the eleventh edition of the event approaches, there are two teams that will be returning for a seventh time: Huntington Beach High School (CA), which competed in the inaugural event in 2012, and Orange Lutheran High School (CA), which made its debut in 2015. The pair of Southern California schools have had much success since their NHSI debuts as they have won a combined five titles in the last six years the event has been held.
“I remember being told that USA Baseball had a vision of putting together the best high school tournament in the country to hopefully help establish a national champion,” recalled Orange Lutheran Head Coach and three-time USA Baseball national team coach Eric Borba. “There wasn’t anything like that at the time, and their goal was to bring the best 16 teams in the country to one spot. As a younger coach, trying to build our program and our brand, the opportunity to participate in that seemed
very exclusive and something that could help take us to another level.”
Taking high school programs to new heights is exactly what the NHSI has done for its participants. What was a leap of faith at the time–taking a chance on a brand-new concept in prep baseball on the other side of the country–has opened the door to numerous opportunities for so many teams like Huntington Beach and Orange Lutheran.
From the national reputation that has been created for teams that participate in the event to the perspective players gain in just how many paths their careers could go on, the benefit of this event goes far beyond wins and losses on the field.
“This event really has enabled our kids to get exposure on the East Coast,” said Huntington Beach Head Coach Benji Medure. “From our 2016 championship team, we had multiple players end up going to schools like Harvard and North Carolina State. Before this event, there was no chance of that happening and our players would just get recruited by Southern California schools. Over time we’ve become more nationally known to where schools from all over the country are recruiting our players. It’s really opened up the eyes of our players to see that baseball is truly a national sport and it’s not just limited to Southern
California. Our players are going to places all across the country now, and I think that’s a good thing.”
This heightened exposure isn’t just for West Coast teams, though. Teams even from the eastern part of the country have seen a rise in the number of players who are being recruited on a national scope. Because the level of competition is elevated in Cary, colleges and professional scouts are truly able to evaluate the talent of each player that is participating.
“The exposure that you get from a college and professional scouting standpoint is great for our guys because of the competition they face at the NHSI,” said St. Johns Country Day (FL) Head Coach Tom Lucas. “If we play an inferior opponent in Florida, scouts really struggle with getting a sense of how guys perform, but in Cary it’s the best of the best. This event will attract so many scouts from across the nation; you’ll have national scouting directors from MLB organizations, and some teams will send four representatives from their bigleague club to come scout the event.
“On top of that, college coaches get to see them and don’t have to wonder how they’ll fare against college competition because they’re getting to see hitters face pitchers who could get drafted in the top three rounds of the MLB Draft and vice versa. So, if those coaches can
see them succeed against guys like that, that’s the type of player they want to offer.”
As an event that schools strive to receive an invitation from, April 10th will be a special day for seven teams in this year’s field as it will mark their NHSI debuts. This week, those teams will get the opportunity to join an elite group and showcase why they are deserving of the reputation as one of the top high schools in the country.
Chaparral High School (AZ) will be one of those seven schools making their debuts. For the players and a majority of the coaching staff it will be their first time at the National Training Complex, but for head coach Troy Gerlach, this will be like a homecoming. A three-time national team coach, Gerlach is coming off leading USA Baseball’s 2023 12U National Team to a gold medal at the World Baseball Softball Classic (WBSC) U-12 Baseball World Cup last summer. He has also served as an assistant coach for the 2022 12U squad and for the 2018 15U National Team which both won gold at their respective World Cups and has been a part of several USA Baseball events from the developmental and identification side.
“Cary is kind of a second home to me,” said Gerlach. “Somebody asked me the other day how many days a summer I'm in Cary, and I got to thinking that the last four or five summers, I've been there for about three weeks each time, if not more. So, it's pretty awesome to be able to take the kids there and let them experience the complex and facilities. My son [Ty] is making the trip with us too, so to be able to share it with him and let him see where dad’s been the last four or five summers is pretty special.”
With Gerlach’s success on the USA Baseball front combined with accomplishing a feat that has been on his list of goals since taking the reins of Chaparral’s program in May of 2019, this week could go in his memory bank as one of the top moments in his coaching career.
this week, one thing certainly rings true for every team as they make their way to Cary, North Carolina, that each coach and player will look to soak in the full experience that the event offers to its participants.
“We’re telling our kids to enjoy the experience,” explained Lucas. “What USA Baseball does is first class. From the moment we get off the planes, these kids are going to feel like big leaguers; they're going to feel like they're a part of Team USA. It’s just so special and it’s
“This tournament is one of the most recognized in the country on the high school level, and it was one of my goals when our staff got the job at Chaparral to be able to bring our team to the NHSI. Having the history that I do with a first-class organization like USA Baseball and winning a couple of gold medals, just being able to have our players experience that same type of atmosphere and play against the best players in the country is going to be pretty awesome.”
This week provides an opportunity for teams to not only compete in a top-tier event, but to celebrate the hard work they have put in to earn an invitation to Cary. So, as the 2024 National High School Invitational commences
probably going to be one of the best baseball weeks of their lives just because of everything USA Baseball does. It's truly the best of the best getting together and doing what they enjoy doing that week.”
“It's such a first class run event. It's an unbelievable event for our kids that they'll cherish and remember for the rest of their lives,” said Borba. “They get treated almost like big leaguers would, so I think the overall experience that players and their families have by traveling to Cary and playing at the National Training Complex just brings you chills. When you walk in through that gate at the front to know all the great players from our past who have played and trained there, it’s just one of those special once in a lifetime type of opportunities.”
Mater Dei High School (Santa Ana, Calif.) earned the inaugural National High School Invitational (NHSI) presented by the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance championship in 2012 with a 3-2 walk-off victory over Harvard-Westlake School (Studio City, Calif.). Despite the Wolverines jumping out to an early 2-0 lead, Mater Dei rallied with two solo home runs in the fourth and seventh innings, respectively, to send the game to extra innings. After holding Harvard-Westlake scoreless in the top of the eighth, the Monarchs used a bases-loaded single in the bottom half to secure the first-ever NHSI title in dramatic fashion.
In a rematch of the 2012 National High School Invitational (NHSI) presented by the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance, Mater Dei High School (Santa Ana, Calif.) and HarvardWestlake School (Studio City, Calif.) once again went head-to-head with Mater Dei defending its title with a 4-0 victory. In the second edition of this matchup, the Monarchs got on the board first and never looked back. The team plated its first run in the top of the third before adding two more in the sixth and one in the seventh for the final 4-0 score to secure its second consecutive championship.
After Mater Dei High School (Santa Ana, Calif.) repeated as National High School Invitational (NHSI) presented by the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance champions in the first two editions of the event, The First Academy (Orlando, Fla.) became just the second team to claim the trophy with a 5-3 defeat of Clovis High School (Clovis, Calif.). After a slow start on offense for both squads, The First Academy broke onto the scoreboard first in the contest with back-to-back RBI doubles for a 2-0 advantage in the third. Clovis responded in the fourth to take a 3-2 lead before The First Academy was able to rally two innings later with three runs of its own to make it 5-3. The Royals held Clovis off in the seventh to secure its victory and claim the 2014 NHSI title.
San Clemente High School (San Clemente, Calif.) used a strong run in 2015 to claim the National High School Invitational (NHSI) presented by the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance championship. The squad outscored opponents 17-9 in its first three games of the event to secure its spot in the title game where it took on College Park (Pleasant Hill, Calif.) for the trophy. In the final, San Clemente opened the scoring in the second and plated runs in every inning that followed to remain in control throughout the contest. College Park broke through in the fourth and the fifth but couldn’t overcome the deficit as San Clemente cruised to an 8-3 victory and the title. The game marked the largest margin of victory in the history of the event’s championship game to that point.
After falling in the semifinals of the 2015 National High School Invitational (NHSI) presented by the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance to eventual champion San Clemente High School (San Clemente, Calif.), Huntington Beach High School (Huntington Beach, Calif.) came roaring back one year later to claim the 2016 title. The team outscored its opponents 30-15 en route to the championship, including defeating Chaminade Prep (Los Angeles, Calif.) 7-2 in the final. Chaminade broke onto the scoreboard first though, taking an early 1-0 lead in the first inning with an RBI single. But Huntington Beach wasted no time responding as the offense came alive in the bottom of the second for four runs before adding one in the fifth and two more in the sixth for a strong 7-1 advantage. Chaminade got one run back in the seventh but couldn’t get anything else as Huntington Beach finished off the 7-2 victory and secured its NHSI championship.
Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.) started its dominant run at the National High School Invitational (NHSI) presented by the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance with its first championship in 2017. After victories over Merritt Island High School (Merritt Island, Fla.), Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville, Fla.), and South Hills High School (West Covina, Calif.), the Lancers faced off against Dana Hills High School (Dana Point, Calif.) for the NHSI title. The two teams traded runs in the second and third innings for a 2-2 tie that would hold until the sixth inning when Orange Lutheran finally broke through with a sacrifice fly that made it 3-2 in its favor. Dana Hills tried to put together rally in the seventh with two hits that fell short as the Lancers got a double play to end the game and secure their first NHSI championship.
The 2018 edition of the National High School Invitational (NHSI) presented by the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance featured just the second repeat champion and a historic run to the final. After outscoring opponents 16-4 in its first three games of the event, Green Hope High School (Cary, N.C.) secured its spot in the 2018 NHSI championship game and became the first school from North Carolina to advance into the finals at the NHSI. The team’s opponent was Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.) which was looking to defend its 2017 NHSI title and become just the second team in event history to repeat as champions. Both offenses were quiet through the first three innings before the Lancers finally broke the game wide open with six runs throughout the fourth and fifth innings for a 6-0 lead. The Falcons responded in the bottom of the fifth to cut the deficit in half but it wouldn’t be enough as Orange Lutheran added three more insurance runs to claim a 9-3 victory and its second consecutive NHSI title.
In its seven-year history, the National High School Invitational (NHSI) presented by the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance had seen just two teams defend their titles in the event. But never had there been a threepeat – until 2019. Coming into the most recent edition of the tournament, Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.) had won nine straight NHSI games and hadn’t dropped a contest since 2014, and the Lancers picked right back up in 2019 where they had left off. They cruised into the
championship game outscoring opponents 22-3 to take on Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.). But HarvardWestlake had also defeated its three opponents by wide margins to reach the final, outscoring them 16-1 with two shutouts, and the Wolverines were looking for redemption after falling in both the 2012 and 2013 NHSI championship games. The Lancers proved to be too strong though and they wasted no time in their title defense, plating a pair of runs in the first inning to open the scoring and never looking back. They would add three more runs before Harvard-Westlake got on the board with two runs of its own in the fifth to cut the deficit to three but a final insurance run for the Lancers in the sixth sealed the 6-2 victory and Orange Lutheran’s third NHSI title.
At the 2022 National High School Invitational (NHSI) presented by the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance, Stoneman Douglas (Parkland, Fla.) became the first team outside of the state of California to win the title. The Eagles had a dominant showing in Cary, going undefeated with a 4-0 record and allowing its opponents to score just four runs to its 43 in the tournament. Stoneman Douglas opened play with a 15-0 victory over D.H. Conley (Greenville, N.C.), followed by an 11-1 defeat over Yucaipa (Yucaipa, Calif.) in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, the Eagles were matched up with three-time defending champion Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.) and handed the Lancers their first loss in the event since 2014. The 11-0 five-inning run-rule result snapped a 15-game
win streak for Orange Lutheran at the event. Stoneman Douglas met St. Johns Country Day (Orange Park, Fla.) in the championship game, which proved to be tightly contested back-and-forth matchup. Despite the Eagles plating three runs in the first to take an early lead, the Spartans knotted the game at 3-3 in the top of the third inning. Stoneman Douglas retook its lead at 4-3 in the bottom of the third and plated an insurance run in the fifth en route to its first-ever NHSI title in program history.
In the 10th edition of the National High School Invitational (NHSI) presented by the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance, Huntington Beach (Huntington Beach, Calif.) put together a stellar performance en route to its second title and first since 2016. In its opening-round matchup against Basha (Chandler, Ariz.), a pair of runs in the fifth and sixth innings, along with a four-RBI day from Ralphy Velazquez, propelled the Oilers to a 6-3 victory and a spot in the quarterfinals. In the second round it was a total team effort as Huntington Beach’s offense tallied 10 hits and its pitching staff gave up just three runs in its 8-3 win over Calvary Christian (Clearwater, Fla.). Its semifinal game against Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) was a tightly contested matchup where the Oilers held off a late rally to win, 3-2, and advance to the championship game first the first time since 2016. In the finals, a seven-run ninth inning after a back-and-forth battle between the Oilers and JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) allowed Huntington Beach to secure an 8-1 victory and take home its second title in program history.
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Playing in the National High School Invitational (NHSI) presented by the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance has become almost a rite of passage for top high school prospects, as the prestigious event provides players with a stage to showcase their talents early in the high school season in front of countless scouts from the college and professional ranks.
As a result, the NHSI has a long track record of producing high-round MLB Draft picks, including more than 35 firstrounders since the event’s inception in 2012, as well as an extensive list of notable alumni that have already made their mark in the big leagues.
After an impressive showing at the 2013 NHSI with Hamilton High School (Chandler, Ariz.) Cody Bellinger was selected in the fourth round of the 2013 MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers and made his big league debut with the club in 2017. He crushed 39 home runs in his rookie campaign, combining what would become his signature power with 87 runs and 97 RBIs to earn 2017 National League Rookie of the Year honors and an All-Star Game
nod. Bellinger tallied 152 dingers, 434 runs, 652 hits, 134 doubles, and 422 RBIs en route to being named a twotime All-Star in 2017 and 2019, the 2019 NLCS MVP, both a 2019 Gold Glover and Silver Slugger, and winning a World Series championship with the Dodgers in 2020. He was traded to the Chicago Cubs ahead of the 2023 season and earned the National League Silver Slugger Award after slashing .307/525/.326 with 97 RBIs and 26 homers.
Joey Gallo was regarded as the top prep slugger at the inaugural NHSI as a member of Bishop Gorman High School (Las Vegas, Nev.). He has since furthered that reputation in the majors after being selected in the fourth round of the 2012 MLB Draft by the Texas Rangers and making his big league debut in 2015. Gallo hit 41 home runs in 2017, another 40 in 2018, and was named an AllStar in 2019. The two-time Gold Glover made his second All-Star Game appearance in 2021 after clubbing 38 home runs and drawing an American League-best 111 walks with the Rangers and the New York Yankees.
Lucas Giolito, along with Jack Flaherty and Max Fried, helped power Harvard-Westlake School (Los Angeles, Calif.) to the championship game of the 2012 NHSI. He was then selected with the 16th overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft by the Washington Nationals before getting the call to the big leagues in 2016. He put together an All-Star season in 2019, allowing just 69 runs in 176.3 innings of work to tally a 3.41 ERA for the Chicago White Sox.
Jack Flaherty was also a member of Harvard-Westlake School’s (Los Angeles, Calif.) dominant pitching staff at the inaugural NHSI in 2012 before being selected in the first round of the 2014 MLB Draft. The Burbank, California, native made his MLB debut in 2017 with the St. Louis Cardinals and has since recorded a 3.75 ERA, allowing just 294 runs over 667.2 innings on the mound. In 2019, Flaherty started 33 games for the Cardinals and surrendered just 62 runs in 196.1 innings to finish the season with a career-low 2.75 ERA and a career-best 231 strikeouts and earn All-MLB Team honors.
Max Fried joined Jack Flaherty and Lucas Giolito on the Harvard-Westlake School’s pitching staff that guided the squad to the 2012 NHSI title game. Afterwards, Fried was taken with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft
by the San Diego Padres. He was traded to the Atlanta Braves in 2014 and made his MLB debut for the club in 2017 where he has been a mainstay in the rotation ever since. Fried collected a perfect 7-0 record and tallied a 2.25 ERA during the 2020 season before helping lead the Braves to a World Series championship in 2021 with a 3.04 ERA and just 61 runs allowed over 165.2 innings of work. In 2022 he was an All-Star Game selection and a Gold Glove recipient after compiling a 2.48 ERA with a career-high 170 strikeouts in 185.1 innings.
After boosting his draft stock with a strong showing for Grayson High School (Loganville, Ga.) at the 2013 NHSI, Austin Meadows was selected with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2013 MLB Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He made his MLB debut with the Pirates in 2018 and shortly after was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays where he tallied 308 hits, 65 home runs, 212 RBIs, and a .256 average in just over three seasons. He recorded a career-high 33 home runs, 154 hits, 83 runs, and seven triples while collecting 89 RBIs to earn All-Star honors in 2019 before being traded to the Detroit Tigers in 2022.
Matt Olson, a participant in the 2012 NHSI with Parkview High School (Lilburn, Ga.) and a first-round pick in the 2012 MLB Draft, has hit 176 home runs for the Oakland Athletics since making his debut in 2016. In 2021, he recorded a .271 average with career highs in runs (101), RBIs (111), home runs (39), doubles (35), and walks (88) to earn his first selection to the All-Star Game. He earned his second All-Star selection, along with a Silver Slugger Award, in 2023 after clubbing a career-best 54 homers and tallying 139 RBIs with the Atlanta Braves.
Austin Riley was a two-way standout for Desoto Central High School (Southaven, Miss.) at the 2015 NHSI, showing power on the mound and tallying six hits at the plate. Following his performance in the tournament, Riley was taken in first round of the 2015 MLB Draft by the Atlanta Braves and played a big role in the team’s 2021 World Series championship. He hit .303 that season for the Braves with 33 home runs, 107 RBIs, 91 runs scored, and 52 walks en route to the Fall Classic title, as well as 2021 Silver Slugger honors and a spot on the All-MLB Team. He earned back-to-back All-Star honors in 2022 and 2023 and was a Silver Slugger recipient in 2023 after tallying a combined 347 hits, 75 home runs, and 190 RBIs in those two seasons.
Coaches: Matt Denny, Connor Woods, Tyler Chase, JJ Sferra, Justyn St. Clair
Coaches: Troy Gerlach, Joshua Ellison, Nick DeRegis, Elias Escalante
Coaches: Michael Sindone, Robert Tuttle, Jacob Colquhoun, Kevin Gallaher, Conner Gray, Chelsea Wildey, Dylan Strickland
Coaches: Jared Halpert, Joe Guntz, Junior Brignac, Mark Taricani, Nate Hadley, Greg Garrison
Rosters are submitted by coaches and are current as of April 7, 2024.
TAKE YOUR TRAINING TO THE NEXT LEVEL
DEVELOP A CONSISTENT AND REPEATABLE APPROACH THROUGH
NEURO MUSCLE MEMORY
TRAIN SMARTER AND SAFER
PERFECT YOUR HITTING FORM
PERFECT YOUR PITCHING FORM
Coaches: Eric Borba, RJ Farrell, Marcelo Miranda, Trevor Wood, Jason Murrietta, Derek Evans
Coaches: Marc Wiese, Dennis Schmitten, Jacob Howard, David Neil Jr., Justin Luckman
2024.
Rosters are submitted by coaches and are current as of April 7, 2024.
Jacob Reimer 6 Yucaipa
Owen DeShazo 6 Hanover
Nolan Williamson 6 Hanover
Many Tied 5
Hanover
Brad Hodges 4 St. Johns Country Day 4/7/22 Don Bosco Prep
Ben Barrett 4 The First Academy 4/6/22 Basic Academy
Anthony Volpe 4 Delbarton 4/4/19 South Forsyth
Tucker Mitchell 4 IMG Academy 4/4/19 Hagerty
Blake Rutherford 4 Chaminade 3/24/16 Walton
Josh Stephen 4 Mater Dei 3/23/16 The First Academy
Jeff Passantino 4 Bishop Verot 3/27/14 TC Roberson
Erik Peterson 4 Milton 3/29/13 Bingham
Luke Sherley 4 The Woodlands 3/28/13 Milton 14 inn.
Ryan Gridley 4 Milton 3/28/13 The Woodlands 14 inn.
Jacob Druce 4 Bingham 3/27/13 TC Roberson
Luis Tuero 4 Archbishop McCarthy 3/31/17 Canterbury School
Mark Vientos 4 American Heritage School (FL) 3/29/17 Rocky Mountain
Dean Carpentier 4 Huntington Beach 3/31/23 Bishop Gorman
RUNS SCORED
Caden Connor 4 Orange Lutheran 4/6/19 Harvard-Westlake
Chad Minato 4 Huntington Beach 3/24/16 Trinity Christian
Daniel Amarel 4 Huntington Beach 3/25/15 St. Thomas Aquinas
Ernie De La Trinidad 4 Mountain Pointe 3/28/14 TC Roberson
INNINGS
Whitt
Touki
Katon
STRIKEOUTS
Seth Keller 16 Hanover
Jack Flaherty
Brady Aiken
Luke Pappas Mount Carmel
RBI
Joseph Perez 7 Archbishop McCarthy 3/31/17 Canterbury School
WALKS
Matthew Bennett 4 College Station 3/28/15 St. Thomas Aquinas
Edward Hall 4 McQuaid Jesuit 4/7/22 D.H. Conley
DOUBLES
Ayrton Schafer 3 Houston 3/24/16 Bingham
TRIPLES
Hayden Summers 2 Northwest Guilford 4/4/19 Hendersonville
Cash Case 2 The First Academy 3/24/16 Florence
Logan Storey 2 Huntsville 3/28/14 Regis Jesuit
HOME RUNS
Many Tied 1
STOLEN BASES
Jordyn Adams 4 Green Hope 3/29/18 Mountain Ridge
Ryan Brown 4 Lexington 3/29/13 Cathedral Catholic
COMPLETE GAME SHUTOUTS
Ty Starke St. Xavier 3/29/23 Doral
Cole van Assen Brother Rice 3/29/23 Hagerty
Kaden Soder Bishop Gorman 3/29/23 Bishop Verot
Carson Small Houston County 3/31/23 Calvary Christian
Louis Rodriguez Orange Lutheran 4/7/22 Basic Academy
Jack Schobinger Cornoa del Sol 4/4/19 Hendersonville
Jack Leiter Delbarton 4/4/19 South Forsyth 8 IP
Sam Hliboki Harvard-Westlake 4/3/19 Hendersonville
Brennan Malone IMG Academy 4/3/19 La Mirada
Christian Santana American Heritage Plantation 3/29/17 Rocky Moutain
Brax Garrett Florence 3/23/16 Liberty Christian 6 IP
Chris Hummell Walton 3/23/16 Bingham
Mike White Horizon 3/27/15 Leesville Road
Hagen Danner Huntington Beach 3/26/15 Puyallup
Keegen James Desoto Central 3/26/15 Trinity Prep
Chris Micheles Puyallup 3/25/15 Leesville Road
Adam Haseley The First Academy 3/27/14 Dyer County
McCarthy Tatum Clovis 3/27/14 Gainesville
Mac Marshall Parkview 3/27/14 Venice
Foster Griffin The First Academy 3/26/14 Milton
Whitt Davis Huntsville 3/26/14 TC Roberson
Jacob Erickson Mater Dei 3/30/13 Harvard-Westlake
Brandon Wilhelm Christian Brothers 3/30/13 Jesuit
Korey Anderson Grayson 3/30/13 Eustis
Hans Hansen Harvard-Westlake 3/29/13 Venice
Corey Case Harvard-Westlake 3/28/13 Bingham
Katon Harwood TC Roberson 3/28/13 Florida Christian
Cody Bellinger Hamilton 3/28/13 Jesuit
Aaron Cross Mater Dei 3/28/13 Lexington 9 IP
Jack Flaherty Harvard-Westlake 3/27/13 Eustis
Josh Reagan Lexington 3/27/13 Florida Christian
Chase Tavanatti Bingham 3/27/13 TC Roberson
Hans Hansen Harvard-Westlake 3/30/12 American Heritage Plantation
Zach Lovvorn Oxford 3/30/12 Lee County
INNINGS PITCHED
The Woodlands 14 Milton 3/28/13
Milton 14 The Woodlands 3/28/13
HITS ALLOWED
Mount Carmel 0 Trinity Prep 3/31/18
Marist 1 Christian Brothers 4/4/19
Delbarton 1 South Forsyth 4/4/19
Calvary Christian 1 John Curtis 3/31/18
FUEL YOUR GAME FROM THE FIRST PITCH TO THE LAST OUT. WIN FROM WITHIN. ®