CARY, N.C. — Red Wing's Ryan Boldt is in North Carolina this week competing against the nation's best prospects at the USA Baseball National Training Complex. His quest to secure a spot on the 18U national team got off to a successful start Wednesday afternoon.
Boldt, who was named First Team All-Metro this spring after leading the Wingers to state for the first time since 1977, finished 1-for-4 with a double and stolen base in his debut. He hit leadoff and helped his team to a 3-2 victory.
The 2012 USA Baseball Tournament of Stars program includes the top 144 players invited from across the country. Boldt is one of just three players from Minnesota to take part this year, though Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer also took part when he was in high school.
The teams will play one game per day through Sunday before the roster will be trimmed down for the official National Team Trials. Those selected will remain in North Carolina for another nine-day evaluation period that will help finalize the 25-player roster.
If Boldt is selected for Team USA, he would take part in training with the national team this summer before heading to South Korea to compete in the 18U World Championships starting on Aug. 30. His fallback option is to play with the Ohio Warhawks, an elite program that has won 11 of the past 21 national titles.
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Red Wing's speedy outfielder, who will be a senior, verbally committed to Nebraska last winter where he'll play with cousin Pat Kelly, who was named to two Freshman All-American teams earlier this month. The current Winger standout hit .423 with 15 extra-base hits, 27 RBI and 15 stolen bases this spring.
