The 12U National Team Training Camp wrapped up in Cary, North Carolina with the final game of the Stars vs. Stripes series on Friday morning at Thomas Brooks Park. Training Camp is a special time for all players and families in attendance, but for Manager Bryan Madsen, it marked another checkbox in his tenured coaching career.
Madsen has served on staff at USA Baseball at a wide range of events including: the 13U/14U Athlete Development Program (ADP) in 2022, the Futures Invitational, and the National Team Identification Series (NTIS) Champions Cup. He also served on the big stage as an assistant coach on last year’s staff at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Baseball World Cup where he helped lead the team to a gold medal in Taiwan. Even with all of the experience, this year’s Training Camp marked the first time in Madsen’s career that he would have the opportunity to be a national team manager.
After the completion of the first round of Training Camp, Madsen is impressed with how well-ran the camp was and credits his staff for all of their help.
“I thought it went well. There were a couple things I could have done to make it a little better, but I think we as a staff handled it well. These guys did really well this week. I think we got to see what they're made of, not only as baseball players, but as people. I think we chose a good group for sure.“
There is some familiarity when it comes to Madsen and the national team, but never to the extent of being the manager. He is ecstatic for the new role and notes that there is a learning curve when moving into a new position.
“It's completely different. I've always joked, every level when you start as a Training Camp coach and then you move up to staff; it's a new feeling of responsibility. And then to be the manager is just completely different. You have to take charge in some situations where before, I looked to other, more veteran staff members for guidance. I think I found my way on the second or third day.”
It takes a team to help coordinate an event like Training Camp and Madsen praises his staff for their efforts in helping guide the players.
“They're the best, they each have their own strengths. They're so well-rounded, personally and as coaches, that we can kind of flow from one thing to the other. I can trust what they're doing. I don't need to be standing over their shoulder which is why they're on staff. It's really good to have people like Josh (Ellison), Wes (Brooks) and Roger (Wright) because they are guys that I can truly trust. I know it's getting done the right way with those guys.”
Moving forward, the 24 players selected to continue will make plans to attend an Extended Training Camp where the staff will finalize a roster consisting of 18 players that will compete in Honduras. Madsen already has an idea of what the next stage of Training Camp will look like and knows that this roster has the potential for a gold medal run.
“We need to find the right 18 players for our team. I think we'll do that. We'll start putting a little more pressure on the guys. We'll also start installing plays and things that are going to be used more when we get to Honduras. This Training Camp was more so we could see what they can do and really let them showcase that. We wanted to give them a little guidance and see if they can take it. Our mindset was to teach them some things and see if they can implement it in in-game situations. The extended Training Camp will be pretty much pedal to metal and see who can handle that. I know we have 24 really good baseball players going to the extended camp so it will be a tough decision on our end.”
2024 12U National Team Extended Training Camp Roster
Hudson Bills; LHP; Menifee, Calif.
Sevastian Bojorquez; LHP/OF; Santa Clarita, Calif.
Christian Cicero; C/INF; Orange, Calif.
Gianni Donati; OF; El Dorado Hills, Calif.
Kellen Gee; INF/RHP; Anacortes, Wash.
Adam Gonzalez; INF/RHP; Canyon Country, Calif.
Ahmi Hale; C/OF; Springfield, Ill.
Brett Hamlin; C/INF; Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
Noah Henderson; INF/RHP; Mesa, Ariz.
Levi Hendrick; RHP; Midlothian, Va.
Bronx Holbron; RHP/INF; Waianae, Hi.
Gavin Klovstad; RHP/OF; Orange, Calif.
Austin Lira; OF/RHP; Sunn Valley, Calif.
Jack Mattingly; INF/RHP; Louisville, Ky.
Daylon McCants; OF/LHP; Jacksonville, Fla.
Ethan Palacios; OF/RHP; Buda, Texas
Joshua Park; OF/RHP; La Mirada, Calif.
Joshua Pierre; INF/OF; Parkland, Fla.
Jayden Portes; INF/RHP; Fort Myers, Fla.
Clayton Ratliff; RHP; Casa Grande, Ariz.
Carlo Rivero; INF/RHP; Tucson, Ariz.
Andres Rodriguez; INF; Cutler Bay, Fla.
Carson Schoener; RHP/INF; Las Vegas, Nev.
Jace Winston; C/OF; Fuquay Varina, N.C.
