The UNC Wilmington baseball team will host its first challenge of the season this Saturday at 2 p.m. against Team USA. The game will be the Seahawks’ only exhibition of the season and the final stop for the U18 national team before the Pan-Am Championships this fall in Cartagena, Columbia. 

With several players from the team having played in various summer leagues including the New England Collegiate League, Cal Ripken and Coastal Plain League, this will be the first opportunity for the Seahawks to show off skills they have enhanced since the end of last season.

Coach Mark Scalf, who helped coach for USA baseball in 2003 and 2007, is familiar with the national system and is excited to be playing such a talented team.

“This is going to be an outstanding team,” Scalf said. “Even though they are all 18 and under, a large percent of this team will be drafted next spring and many in the first and second round.”

With a game this early in the year, the Seahawks’ have had to adapt their practice schedule to prepare for the competition. Typically the team spends more time conditioning and lifting weights at the beginning of the year before actually taking the field. But to best prepare, Scalf has had the team on a practice schedule already.

UNCW was originally scheduled to play the Canadian U18 team, as well, but that contest was cancelled with the national team postponing its training.

Despite the age difference in the two teams, pitcher Tom Timoney expects the USA team to be challenge.

“I don’t believe that the age difference will play a noticeable role in the game,” Timoney said. “The coaches and players from Team USA have incredible baseball IQ to go along with tremendous amounts of talent.”

Tickets for the game cost $3 for those 12 and under and $6 for adults but free to all UNCW students. All proceeds and donations from the game will go towards the Miracle League in Wilmington.

The foundation is in the process of building a specialized baseball field and playground for New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender and Onslow counties. The field will be geared to allow children and young adults with disabilities to participate in sports they would not normally be able to because of lack of accessible and safe facilities.