Eighty‑eight of the nation’s most promising teenage baseball players converged in Cary, North Carolina, for the USA Baseball 16‑ and 17‑and‑under National Team Development Program, a showcase that blends high‑intensity games with intensive skill work.
A Platform for Emerging Stars
Among the participants, Thomas Driver, a 6‑foot‑5 right‑hander from Ballston Spa, caught attention with a fastball that regularly hit the mid‑90s and a poise beyond his years.
Driver, who was named Large School second‑team all‑star after posting a 2.80 ERA and striking out 48 batters in 35 innings, also recorded a no‑hitter in his freshman varsity season, an experience he called a steep but rewarding learning curve.
During the camp he worked directly with Jake Arrieta, the 2015 National League Cy Young Award winner and a key member of the Chicago Cubs’ 2016 championship rotation, gaining insight into the mechanics and mental preparation required at the highest level.
Also representing New York, former Taconic Hills standout Francis Conners‑Schmid, now a student at Salisbury School in Connecticut, joined the same roster, bringing his own blend of athleticism and work ethic to the field.
The camp’s schedule included individual workouts, skill sessions, and seminars led by professional scouts and college recruiters, giving each player a comprehensive evaluation that extended beyond raw statistics.
Ballston Spa coach Curtis Nobles emphasized the transformative nature of the experience, noting that Driver was surrounded by elite peers and mentors, an environment that can accelerate growth for any aspiring athlete.
Beyond the diamond, the program offered educational workshops on sports science, nutrition, and the business side of baseball, ensuring that participants left with a broader understanding of the sport’s ecosystem.
For both Driver and Conners‑Schmid, the exposure to top‑tier competition and mentorship opens doors to future national events and potential collegiate scholarships, underscoring the camp’s role as a critical stepping stone in their athletic journeys.