The 2026 USA Baseball 15U National Team Training Camp opened in Cary, North Carolina, with two competitive scrimmages that set an early tone for the tournament.
Opening Scrimmages Deliver Drama
In the first matchup, Team Grey edged Team Light Blue 4-1, capitalizing on timely hitting and solid pitching. Zaylon Johnson opened the scoring with a ground‑ball single in the second inning, and Tyler Early added an RBI double later in the frame.
Max Kimbrell dominated the mound, tossing three scoreless innings with three strikeouts before yielding just one hit. Reliever Trey Vandergriff halted a Light Blue rally in the fifth with a groundout, and the Grey squad loaded the bases in the sixth, prompting an RBI walk by Jackson McAneeley that stretched the lead to 4‑0.
Although Light Blue rallied in the seventh, a single by Matti Di Maggio and a stolen base by Luca Briggs trimmed the margin to 4‑1, but the final out sealed a 4‑1 victory. Zaylon Johnson was the only Grey batter to finish with multiple hits, collecting two singles, a run and an RBI.
The second scrimmage saw Team Navy defeat Team Red 10-9 in a high‑scoring affair, adding another layer of excitement to the camp’s opening day.
Pitching statistics underscored the defensive effort; Grey pitchers walked only one batter while Light Blue outhit them 7‑5. Leyton West recorded the only extra‑base hit for Light Blue, while Noah Vrzal struck out the side in 15 pitches in relief for Light Blue in the seventh inning.
Overall, the camp highlighted a blend of offensive firepower and sharp pitching, with several players delivering multi‑hit performances and clutch relief work that will be closely watched as the season progresses.