USA Baseball National Training Center in Cary scheduled to open in June with Tournament of Stars

From www.usabaseball.com

USA BASEBALL BRINGS UNIQUE HOST FAMILY EXPERIENCE TO CARY, NC FOR 2007 TOURNAMENT OF STARS

As USA Baseball, in conjunction with the Town of Cary, opens its new National Training Center in June 2007, the organization will be bringing a unique host family opportunity to the area. The Tournament of Stars is made up of the nation's 144 best ballplayers aged 18-under and serves as the organization's selection vehicle for its Junior National Team (18-under). Through the support of Major League Baseball, all of the players' expenses are covered to attend this event, from the time they board the plane to come to North Carolina, until the time they board the plane to return home.

The largest and most important piece of this support network of course, is the 72 host families that will open their homes and hearts to these players. USA Baseball has been utilizing this system for the past 10 years in the great community of Joplin, Missouri, and it is exactly this host family network that has separated the Tournament of Stars as a truly special event for both its participant players and coaches and the highly hospitable host families. Matt Titus, USA Baseball Host Family Coordinator, will bring the experience gained over the years in Joplin, and we look forward to capturing this same magical interaction right here in Cary, North Carolina, and its surrounding communities.

These players are hand-selected from all over the country, and are eager to impress on the national stage that USA Baseball provides. In addition to their on-field drive, the typical player excels away from the field as well. While serving as a host family requires adding two new "kids" for a week, the friendships that are forged in that short week, between the players and their host families, last a lifetime.

Event & Host Family Overview

What: 2007 USA Baseball Tournament of Stars presented by Major League Baseball.
The Tournament of Stars (TOS) is made up of 144 of the nation's best ballplayers that are international age-eligible (born in 1989 or 1990). They are invited by 8 youth baseball groups (AABC, American Legion, Babe Ruth, Dixie, PONY, NABF, RBI, and USA Baseball) and compete on 8 teams under the same names. These players form the pool of talent from which USA Baseball will select its Junior (18-under) National Team (JNT) to represent our country in international competition.

The JNT program has a storied history with alumni including superstar Major Leaguers Paul Konerko, Mike Mussina, Alex Rodriguez, and John Smoltz, and recent #1 Overall Picks in the Major League Draft - Joe Mauer (2001), Delmon Young (2003), Matt Bush (2004), Justin Upton (2005), and Luke Hochevar (2006). Additionally, 2005 AL Rookie of the Year Huston Street played in the 2001 TOS. Typical TOS players are highly motivated to be the next person added to this esteemed list.

Where: USA Baseball National Training Center at Thomas Brooks Park in Cary, NC

Dates / Format: June 18-25, 2007
   Thursday, June 14:
Host Family Meeting / Orientation
   Sunday, June 17:
Staff Arrives
   Monday, June 18:
Players Arrive / Event Orientation
   Tuesday - Friday, June 19 - 22:
TOS Pool Play Games
   Saturday, June 23:
TOS Semifinals
   Sunday, June 24:
TOS Finals
   Monday, June 25:
Staff & Players Depart

Hosted Players (ideally 9 families / team):
   AABC:
18
   American Legion:
18
   Babe Ruth:
18
   Dixie:
18
   PONY:
18
   NABF:
18
   RBI:
18
    USA Baseball:
18

Host Family Benefits & Responsibilities (each family hosts two athletes from the same team):
   Benefits:
Gain lifelong friendships with some of the nation's brightest future stars, both on and off the baseball field.
   Attendance:
Attend Host Family Orientation on June 14th and Event Orientation on June 18th to meet and greet your athletes
   Housing:
Separate beds for each athlete
   Meals:
Provide up to three (3) square meals per day (a few meals will be provided by the event)
   Transportation:
Daily transportation to and from games / practices (one event per day), both athletes will attend the same events
   Laundry:
Clean both players' game / practice uniforms daily