For the players who traveled to Cary, North Carolina, to compete at the 2024 12U/14U National Team Identification Series (NTIS) Champions Cup is an immense milestone, and the first step of the process in earning a chance to represent the red, white, and blue on the international stage.

The NTIS Champions Cup presents players the opportunity to showcase their ability in front of the USA Baseball Task Force and collegiate coaches, while also serving as an identification for the various developmental programs in which USA Baseball offers.

While many of the players will be taking the field at the National Training Complex for the first time, some athletes have previously competed at the facilities which ultimately led them to a trip to represent the United States on the big stage. Several alumni of the 2022 12U National Team, who won a gold medal at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-12 Baseball World Cup in Taiwan, are amongst the 200-plus athletes competing at the 14U NTIS Champions Cup in Cary.

One of the teams that traveled to the National Training Complex is the 14U Midwest Stars, which features a pair of members from the 2022 12U National Team: Cristian Matos and Trent O’Malley. As members of the 12U National Team in 2022, Matos and O’Malley were both instrumental pieces of the gold medal run.

Matos was a force on both sides at the plate as he delivered two home runs and tallied two shutout frames. Like Matos, O’Malley had a huge influence on the offense as he registered multiple three-hit games and tossed a hitless inning on the mound. The duo also recently competed in the 2024 13U/14U Athlete Development Program, which serves as the top development program for 13-and-under and 14-and-under athletes.

Now, the duo will get the chance to prove once again that they each deserve a spot on a national team roster.

The two are grateful to be back at the National Training Complex, and acknowledge the opportunity to compete at the NTIS Champions Cup is a huge honor because it could lead to another appearance on a national team lineup.

“I love it. I try to take advantage of the opportunity every time that I’m here. I want to really take everything in. Playing with USA Baseball has been the best thing that I’ve ever done, and being here has been great all summer,” said Matos. “I can’t wait to keep showing out each year.”

“It feels special to step on the field each and every time that I am out here. Being around all of the great competition is the most important thing to me. Coming here is something that I look forward to everytime that I get the chance,” O’Malley added.

After teaming up in 2022 on the 12U National Team, the duo recognizes the uniqueness of a reunion between the two. Matos and O’Malley alike relish the opportunity to be in the same dugout again.

“It’s awesome to be able to see this guy (Trent O’Malley) every year. It’s cool to be on the same team again. Keeping in touch with him and being a part of the same team again has been great. We have a really great bond that we’ll keep forever,” said Matos.

“I love coming back here too and seeing people who were on the 12U National Team with us,” O’Malley continued. “It’s cool to see how everyone has worked on their game and came back here better than they started. I like being able to see the guys again because I barely get to see them throughout the year.”

Some may think that a previous appearance on the 12U National Team may give one too much confidence, but Matos and O’Malley would disagree as they both are bringing the same sense of fire that landed each of them a spot on the national team roster.

“I personally want to compete and win at everything I do. If there is one thing that I want to do at the end of the day it is to compete. I obviously want to win with my team, and I know that by competing we can accomplish that together. I don’t think it matters if somebody goes 0-for-3, but if they play good defense then it can still contribute to a win,” Matos stated. “Something that I try to remember is to do my job and everything will play out.”

“Every game I feel like we are the underdog, and I kind of like that mentality to an extent,” said O’Malley. ‘I feel like we’re always chasing wins. As long as I give my best then I know things will work out for the best.”

Regardless of the event, the pair consider the chance to wear the U-S-A letters on their chests again an immense honor that they will never take for granted.

“It’s the best thing. You never know when the last time you put the jersey on will be, so I try not to get too ahead of myself. I try to take it in every chance that I get,” Matos continued. “I want to leave everything that I have on the field because it’s different when you play with that logo on your chest.”

“It feels super special to wear U-S-A across your chest,” said O’Malley. “Now that I have experienced going to different areas around the world to represent my country, I have a different view on it. I take pride in playing with USA Baseball.”