PORTSMOUTH — While everyone is celebrating the 4th of July, Portsmouth teenager Will Shaheen will always remember the 5th of July.
Shortly after attending a two-day tryout in late June for Team USA's 16-year-old Northeast baseball team in Maryland, Shaheen was in Atlanta with the Seacoast Pirates baseball team when he received a notification about an email from Team USA.
The email informed Shaheen that he was one of 18 players selected for the team – a goal he had dreamed of for as long as he could remember.
“I had such a high sense of pride,” said Shaheen, who will be a junior in the fall at St. John's Prep in Danvers, Massachusetts. “I was super, super happy.”
Team USA Northeast is one of six teams from around the country that will train at the USA Baseball National Training Complex next month in Cary, North Carolina. From there, USA Baseball will select players for its national team.
“I'm so happy to be a part of it and to go to Cary, North Carolina and play with all these kids across the country, I can't wait,” Shaheen said. “To be able to represent New Hampshire, to play and possibly wear that USA uniform, has been a goal of mine forever. So to have the opportunity to maybe do that and compete has been a goal of mine for a while. “
Shaheen, who primarily plays shortstop and third base, believed he did well enough in the two-day tryout to have a chance to be selected.
“All these coaches have been really helpful in telling me what I can improve on, but personally it's been a great test,” Shaheen said. “It felt amazing. Being down there was super, super fun. I played with a lot of kids from Maryland, Virginia and all over that area. It was fun getting to know those guys and the coaches and I thought it went really well.
“I was confident, but you never know, so you don't want to be too confident,” Shaheen continued. “I was pleased with how I played. I was really hoping for that call.”
What will Shaheen do in North Carolina?
All selected participants are divided into 12 groups per age category. The players will do various training exercises and training sessions, as well as compete in a tournament.
“I'm so excited to go down there,” Shaheen said. “Playing with all these guys from the Northeast and playing against all the guys from all over the country is such a great opportunity. I can't wait to go. It's going to be a lot of fun.”
Shaheen said the ultimate goal is to make next year's national team, but also to take everything and use his time wisely.
“And I'm learning from all the coaches there, and being in that facility and taking everything in really,” he said. “And making the most of the opportunity.”
Sahin's preparation
Shaheen can't pinpoint exactly when he started focusing on making the USA 16-U Northeast team, but it certainly led to the many goals he had this offseason.
“Just working out a lot, working out when it wasn't fun and working out when it was fun and doing a lot of things,” she said. “I've seen it for a while. (Gymnastics) this year and last year has really prepared me for this opportunity.”
Shaheen didn't change from his normal training routine, but he did.
“I ate a lot because I'm pretty thin,” Shaheen said. “But whenever I could (train), I trained. I trained probably six or seven days a week and just had fun with it. Getting up and eating, I eat a lot.”
Shaheen added, “just a lot of carbs, my dad really helped me a lot with breakfast, and it was just high in carbs like bacon, fries, pancakes, protein and protein shakes,” he said. “I think that was another thing that incorporated liquid, because it's hard to gain weight just by eating, so that was a big deal.”
