2026 brings another gold medal opportunity for the Team USA 15U National Team. Returning for a second straight stint with the 15U squad, manager Casey Scott, pitching coach Drew Briese, and assistant coaches Steve Butler and JD Pruitt are taking the lessons they learned into the 2026 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-15 Baseball World Cup. With experience under their belts, there’s a collective understanding of the importance that their familiarity and leadership brings.

“I think the four of us coming back provides a ton of continuity,” Briese said. “Going to last year’s qualifying tournament made us battle tested. We’ve played in international waters, been through tough tests with opposing crowds, through the process of selecting a team together. So, the continuity that it provides is a huge piece. We know what to expect of each other on the field and we’re not having to feel things out.”

That trust has been built on a history of winning. Four years after Team USA celebrated in a triumphant dogpile over Cuba to capture gold in Mexico, the 15U National Team is heading back to international waters with its eyes locked on another World Championship.

It’s been a long four years for the program which is hungry to remind the world of its dominance and recapture gold. From 2023 to 2024, Team USA was unable to compete in international competition, subsequently missing the 2024 World Cup. The 15U National Team, however, still took the field and competed in separate international competition where they shined nonetheless.

While those years may not have produced any chance at a World Championship, they continued the team’s stellar streak throughout international play. Despite having different rosters over the next four years, the 15U program hasn’t lost an international match since August 31, 2022, and have won 18 consecutive games.

Though it has been some time since Team USA has had an opportunity to earn gold, Butler remembers the experience in 2022, and just how difficult it is to attain such a prize.

“It’s [WBSC Baseball World Cup] a tournament that you can’t lose, and I was there for the loss. Against Japan in our first game of crossover play, and we knew from that point on that we couldn’t lose again, and we ran the table from there. And the [coaching] staffs since, have continued that legacy of winning. It’s the standard, it’s who we are and what we preach to the players.”

For Team USA, the success on the field is undoubtedly a byproduct of a larger standard that the 15U program holds. For Casey Scott, who is returning as manager for the team, the history and excellence of the program speaks for itself.

“This is the 15U [National Team] program. We’ve got alumni, we’ve got history, we’ve got traditions and the best tradition we have is winning,” Scott explained. “Something that is really important to us is to keep that going. It’s really important for us to continue to elevate the present and lay the groundwork for the future.”

That tradition held strong last year during the WBSC U-15 Pan American - Central and North America Qualifier. The stars and stripes ventured down to Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, with one goal in mind — to punch their ticket into the 2026 WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup. That goal was accomplished in dominant fashion.

In the four game tournament, the red, white, and blue went undefeated and outscored their opponents 42-6. However, the reality for that 20-man squad was they would not be able to compete for a World Cup. Former manager and current pitching coach Drew Briese discussed the mentality going into this September.

“2025 was fantastic, going down there [to Mexico] last year and winning the qualifier while going undefeated. But this year, it’s a new team. The goal is the same, but it’s a new mission to go down there and to win a gold medal.”

A new year provides a new team and new challenge, however, the vision for the team remains the same. Assistant coach Steve Butler explained the philosophy that team carried and what the ultimate goal was.

“[With last year’s team] our motto was build the legacy and defend the standard, and those kids did that. We challenged those 20 [players] to go to Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and give this next 20 the opportunity to go get what we believe is still very much ours in the world championship trophy.”

What makes a championship team special is more than assembling the fastest-throwing pitchers or the hardest-hitting batters. It’s about creating an unwavering group, and one that consists of players ready to rise to the occasion.

To build such a group, that starts at the top with the ones pushing and managing them to the best of their abilities. Luckily for this year’s roster, they will be playing under a group of four who’ve been there and done that. Assistant coach JD Pruitt explained what makes this staff of coaches work together so well.

“Everyone has a leadership mindset, a growth mindset, the ability to talk about the game of baseball, individuals where ego isn’t involved and where everyone is looking to learn and grow from each other. I think that’s one of the unique things about it and it all starts with the people associated with the organization.”

That mutual respect creates a seamless dynamic in the dugout, but for Scott, the bond goes well beyond X's and O's.

“Those three other coaches are outstanding people and three of my best friends. So anytime you can experience something like that with people like that, it just makes it that much more special. And we think alike, work alike, and I think that shows with how we interact with the players.”

With 15U National Team Training Camp underway in Cary, North Carolina, the dream of repeating past success and adding more golden hardware is rapidly becoming a reality for the staff. The energy on the field is exuberant as players compete for roster spots and the coaching staff works to mold a cohesive unit. But beyond the daily grind and tactical preparations lies a deeper appreciation for the jersey they wear and the standard they are tasked with upholding.

For coach Butler, putting on the red, white, and blue isn't simply about winning games. It's about playing with national pride and stepping into the shoes that such outstanding individuals have worn before.

“USA Baseball as an organization, is a brotherhood from the players, to coaches, to support staff,” Butler said. “It’s like a fraternity where you know everybody that’s been involved, and what they’ve done. You really just want to go in and do the job that the people before you did — that’s what it’s all about.”

That sense of duty drives every practice in Cary, where players and coaches possess a profound respect for the groundwork laid by previous teams. For this staff, leading the 15U program isn't about personal accolades; it's about honoring the past while ensuring the standard never drops for the players who will wear the uniform next.

It’s a sentiment that resonates deeply with coach Pruitt, who views this upcoming World Cup run as both an honor and a privilege.

“[It's about] just being a part of building that legacy and defending the standard of USA Baseball,” Pruitt said. “I’m just extremely humbled, privileged, and excited to have an opportunity to continue to build it.”

The moment this staff and its players have been patiently waiting for lies just over the horizon. And as Team USA prepares to take the international stage once more, those repping the stars and stripes can rest easy knowing who is leading the charge.