USA Baseball NTIS

Definitely legit.  Great early experience for my son to learn the ropes of pro style workout/tryout.  Earlier stages, regional events can be money makers but if your son gets to all state or region team it will be a great experience, a chance to see what top notch talent is (and if he stacks up) and, depending upon his age and skillset, some early exposure.  Another regular poster on HSBW convinced me to take my son a few years ago, and I am still thanking him.  

Good morning,

Great experience last year, son did well in Cary (pm for more details).

For a 1st timer, early rounds a good measuring stick.

If your son makes it to Cary, you will enjoy the games at a great facility (USA Baseball) and play with top players.

I will pass on advice a dad of an older kid gave us:

If you go there expecting to make Team USA you will likely be disappointed

(most of the team was set at age 14, with few open spots).

If you go there for the experience and the exposure, you will gain a lot, son heard from and later met college coaches after some good games.

The exposure is very valuable and could put him on some school's radar.

Best of luck to your son!

PS: watch the birthday cutoff as son had to play 16 when he was 14u 2 years ago. They use an international birthday date.

Playing in Carey was a great experience for our son.  He really enjoyed the level of play and got to meet some great kids that he played in tournaments with for several years.  The only thing that I would advise is to not be to focused on making Team USA.  The chance for that is pretty remote.

Like one in a million.....

How old is your son?  My son went as a 13U player with the OV team.  Based on our experience I wouldn't consider it at that age. Worst baseball experience we've ever had.  Yes, it was a nice complex....but that's all...though the 13U kids were not in the "USA Complex"...they were in a park attached....but still very nice fields compared to Ohio....lol.    Coaching was an  absolute joke.. our HC brought 3 kids onto the team from his own AA level travel team who couldn't have played LL in our area...and they pitched, played 1B and SS 90% of the time. Competition was "average" at best.  My son's travel team was very good and would have dominated every team there....heck, our local LL team would have done Ok.  Also, there are no "scouts" watching 13U kids....lol. 

I will say....that the group running the OV region now isn't the same group that ran it when we went...so things may be different....just telling you our experience.

My son will be 14 next month. He would be in the 14u age group. I would like him to try it out just as a measuring stick and to get to play with some other players. It looks like it would line up pretty well with his teams baseball schedule. Would be satisfied with just having him play against some good talent.He played on a state "all star team" last year. That ended up being a bit of a money grab . But he enjoyed playing with a different group of players and a different coaching style. I swear the kid runs into people he knows everywhere.

Hueysdad....going to the tryout wouldn't hurt....and if I remember, they aren't all that expensive.  It would give you a good idea where he stands.  If by chance he gets asked to go to NC, you'd have to make the decision at that time.

If he makes the regional team, playing in Cary will be a great experience.  Yes you will see some 13u's on some teams due to the way they do their age classification.  Unlike most sanctions that use May birth date to classify playing age, USA Baseball requires you to be your playing age on Dec. 31st.....that rules out a lot of 14u, or 16u for those two teams.

Playing in Cary was a great experience for Jr.

At least a few years ago at the 16U level the NTIS had tournaments where they invited selected travel teams as well as NTIS organized teams. My son went to a NTIS event with his travel team and did not do the tryout. A couple of kids off his team were selected. Not sure if this format is still in effect, but worth a look.