It’s a grueling path to gold at the National Team Championships Arizona.
Nine games. Seven days. And one opportunity for glory.
The Calzadiaz family knows all about the journey.
Kyle and Austin Calzadiaz both suited up for GBG Renegades at the 2019 National Team Championships Arizona. Kyle’s 15U squad reached the gold-medal game at the tournament, which included a five-inning no-hitter from the right-handed Cal State Fullerton commit in the semifinals of the event.
“That was one of the greatest baseball experiences I’ve had,” Calzadiaz said. “I still talk about it all the time.”
Austin’s 14U team impressed, as well, and compiled a 4-1-1 record at the 2019 tournament. The cousins, whose fathers are twins, used the week-long period to learn about the path to playing for Team USA and as a learning opportunity to understand the mindset of a champion.
“I think we were able to take away the experience of having been in the moment,” Kyle Calzadiaz said. “We didn’t let it get too big for us and just went out there and competed the best way we could.”
The duo returned to the summer showcase in 2021 at the 17U level with another shot to shine on the diamond. And each made his own mark. Kyle posted the third-best outfield velocity (91 mph) at testing day and helped Dukes Baseball reach the quarterfinals before the team suffered its first and only loss of the tournament. Austin logged a pair of hits, including a triple, and scored the opening run in GBG Renegades Navy’s 2-1 win against Legacy Baseball Group 17U Gold.
“It’s pretty awesome,” Kyle Calzadiaz said. “We’ve been hanging out and going to hit in our backyard and just doing everything together. It’s pretty cool to get to see (Austin) on another team and compete against him.”
They say great minds think alike. Well, great baseball players think alike, too. Kyle Calzadiaz hopes he and Austin both someday have the opportunity to suit up for the red, white and blue.
“Both of us would be so honored (to play for Team USA).” Kyle Calzadiaz said. “That’s been one of our goals since I can remember, really. We’ve been out to a couple USA Baseball events trying to make the team and it would be a great experience getting to be a part of that group.”
Baseball is a small world and fans are often one degree of separation away from a common connection. And when that familiar face is family, it makes the game and the competition that much more fun.
Be sure to follow along with all the action from Phoenix on GameChanger, and by following @USABaseball and @USABChamps_AZ on Twitter.
