DURHAM, N.C. — USA Baseball announced on Thursday the 16 teams that will compete in the 2017 USA Baseball National High School Invitational (NHSI) presented by the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance.
The sixth annual event will take place at the USA Baseball National Training Complex (NTC) in Cary, North Carolina, from March 29 – April 1, and feature top prep baseball teams and individual talents from across the country.
“As the National Governing Body for baseball in the United States, we are proud to put the spotlight on the high school game with the 2017 NHSI,” said Paul Seiler, USA Baseball’s Executive Director/CEO. “We are excited to welcome sixteen of the top high school programs to the National Training Complex for what is truly a one-of-a-kind competitive and developmental experience for these players and programs.”
Three-time defending MECKA 4A Conference champion Hough High School (Cornelius, N.C.) will serve as the host of this year’s tournament. The Huskies finished its 2016 season with a 22-6 record and advanced to the second round of the NCHSAA AAAA state playoffs.
Highlighting the 2017 field is defending NHSI champion Huntington Beach High School (Huntington Beach, Calif.), who defeated Chaminade College Preparatory School, 7-2, to win its first NHSI championship in 2016. Past participants American Heritage High School (Plantation, Fla.), Hamilton High School (Chandler, Ariz.), Orange Lutheran High School (Orange, Calif.) and Rocky Mountain High School (Fort Collins, Colo.) all also return to the event, vying for their first title.
Florida and California are well represented with half of the 16-team field hailing from their states. Joining Huntington Beach High School and Orange High School out of the state of California are Dana Hills High School (Dana Point, Calif.) and South Hills High School (Covina, Calif.). Archbishop McCarthy High School (Southwest Ranches, Fla.), Canterbury School (Fort Meyers, Fla.) and Merritt Island High School (Merritt Island, Fla.) join American Heritage High School as representatives from Florida.
The state of Illinois will be represented at the National High School Invitational for the first time with the selection of Brother Rice High School (Chicago, Ill.) to the tournament field.
Rounding out the 2017 NHSI tournament pool are Arlington High School (Arlington, Tenn.), Cullman High School (Cullman, Ala.), Malvern Preparatory School (Malvern, Pa.) and Winder-Barrow High School (Winder, Ga.).
“In just a few short years the National High School Invitational has established itself as the premier event of its kind in the nation,” said Scott Dupree, Executive Director of the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance. “USA Baseball has done a fantastic job creating, developing and growing the NHSI, which is now a signature event on our spring sports calendar, both in terms of fan interest and economic development. We are delighted to be on board as a host partner.”
