Parkland’s Valentina Smith Selected to USA Baseball Women’s National Team Training Camp

by Matt Rothman June 12, 2026

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Parkland’s Valentina Smith Selected to USA Baseball Women’s National Team Training Camp

Valentina Smith. {Toro Hoops}

Parkland native Valentina Smith has earned one of the highest honors in amateur baseball after being selected to the 2026 USA Baseball Women’s National Team Training Camp.

Smith called the opportunity to represent the United States at such a young age a tremendous honor and said the selection has motivated her to elevate her training as she pursues a spot on the final roster.

“Being selected is another step closer to my goal of making a difference,” Smith said. “Being the only girl on a boys team, it’s hard to feel like I belong, and this will be my first time in an environment where I’m surrounded by people with the same goal as me. I can’t wait to experience that.”

Smith was one of 40 players chosen for the camp and one of only four first-time invitees. The five-day training camp will run from June 11-15, with the final 20-player roster being selected at its conclusion.

Smith has been playing baseball since she was four years old and has continued to climb the ranks through Little League, Westglades Middle School, and Saint Andrew’s School, where she has been a member of the varsity team since her sophomore season. She has also competed for the East Coast Yankees, Parkland Pokers, Elev8 Academy, and the VSA Red Sox Scout Team. This summer, she will play for Empire Baseball, a program led by coaches from the University of Tampa, the three-time defending Division II National Champions.

The evaluation process will include workouts, practices, and intrasquad scrimmages held throughout eastern North Carolina, with events taking place at the USA Baseball National Training Complex, Jack Coombs Field, and Segra Stadium.

“We are very excited to welcome these 40 players to Training Camp next week,” Women’s National Team Program Director Makenzie Kelly said. “These players will have the opportunity to continue to learn from some of the best as we set our sights on earning a spot in next year’s World Cup Finals.”

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Matt Rothman

Matt Rothman is a 2018 graduate from Florida Gulf Coast University receiving his bachelor’s degree in journalism and then graduated from the University of Florida as a graduate student.