Teams named for National High School Invitational baseball tournament

By Staff Report Nov 27, 2011, 11:20pm

Some of the nation's top programs will compete in the event hosted by USA Baseball in Cary, N.C.

The 16 teams have been set for the inaugural National High School Invitational at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C., on March 28-31.

Hosted by USA Baseball, the tournament features many of the top teams in the country including Nevada state champion Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), Georgia state champions Columbus (Ga.) and Parkview (Lilburn, Ga.) and the New York PSAL champion Washington (New York City).

Other teams competing include American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.), Brookwood (Snellville, Ga.), Carroll (Corpus Christi, Texas), Gulliver Prep (Miami), Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood, Calif.), Highlands Ranch (Colo.), Lee County (Sanford, N.C.), Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), Orange Lutheran (Calif.), Oxford (Ala.), Russell County (Seale, Ala.), and Sarasota (Fla.).

"We're thrilled with the group of participating teams that we have been able to secure for 2012," said Rick Riccobono, USA Baseball's director of development. "The tournament field features not only the most elite high school programs in the country, but some of the top draft-eligible players as well."

The tournament will also feature some of the top-ranked players in the country, according to Baseball America, which is partnering with USA Baseball and the town of Cary to host the event. The tournament features Harvard-Westlake pitchers Lucas Giolito (ranked No. 2) and Max Fried (No. 7), Bishop Gorman infielder Joey Gallo (No. 12), Carroll's Courtney Hawkins (No. 15) and Brookwood's Lucas Sims (No. 16).



The tournament is single elimination with each team guaranteed at least four games. A complete bracket has yet to be released.