Two local teens were chosen out of thousands to represent the USA in an upcoming international baseball tournament.

By Melissa Cole

Seth Olczak and Shayne “SJ” Box Jr. have shared a love of baseball for as long as they can remember.

Now 13, both boys first picked up a bat and glove at just 3 years old. From ages 10 to 12, they were teammates on a championship West Hartford Youth Baseball team, winning countless games together at Wolcott Park.

When the opportunity came to try out for an international baseball team over the winter, both decided to take a chance.

SJ attended an in-person tryout, while Seth’s scheduled tryout was canceled because of a January snowstorm. Instead, he submitted a video audition. Thousands of players from across the country competed for a spot, but only 24 were ultimately selected in their age group.

Amazingly, and against the odds, both local boys made the team.

“I was at school, and my dad texted me, ‘Let’s go!'” SJ recalled. “Then he sent me the picture, and I went crazy!”

Seth was also at school when he received the news.

“I was pretty darn happy,” he said with a smile. “It was electric. It was crazy.”

The boys will travel to the Dominican Republic from Aug. 9-15 to represent Team USA in the 2026 Latin America Baseball Classic. The tournament, which has been held for more than 30 years, is considered the largest international youth baseball tournament in the world.

To prepare for the prestigious event, they’ve spent much of the summer training together. Seth, a pitcher, and SJ, an outfielder, often head to a practice facility in Newington for hours at a time, pushing each other to improve.

“We stretch, warm up, get the blood flowing. If he has a pitching lesson and I have a hitting lesson, I’ll help him warm up his arm, then I go over my lesson. Really depends on the day, but we spend, like, two, three hours at the facility.” SJ said.

He goes on to say they have similar practice styles and expectations, so they practice well together. 

“We have the same work ethic,” SJ said. “We both really want to play professionally or at the Division I level. We want it really bad. We have our moments where we’re funny and joke around, but when we need to flip the switch and really lock in, we can do that. We know how to go to work.”

Their families couldn’t be prouder. In August, they’ll travel to the Dominican Republic alongside the team to cheer the boys on and experience a part of the world they’ve never visited before.

“It’s a very exciting and proud moment to see how he’s progressed over the years,” said Shayne Box Sr., SJ’s dad. “He’s always loved the game, but he had to work hard to get good. I’m happy to see all of that hard work paying off.”

Seth’s mom, Melissa Olczak, shares those same emotions.

“I mean, this is his dream, and it’s been his dream since he was a little kid,” she said. “He started walking at 9 months old, trying to keep up with his brother. As soon as he could hold a baseball, he was throwing one. He’s tried other sports, but he always comes back to baseball.”

The boys’ former Knights of Columbus WHYBL coach, Kyle Jeter, was also eager to share what makes these two teammates so special.

“They embodied the principles of leading by example and supporting their teammates no matter the situation,” Jeter said. “I am so pumped that they get to experience the LABC together on the same team.”

Jeter said Seth, a left-handed pitcher, developed both his skills and confidence over the years.

“We could always count on Seth to give his best effort and put the team on his back,” he said. “He was never afraid of challenges, even when I put him on the mound at age 10. Most of all, he was humble beyond his years despite being the best player in the league as a 12-year-old.”

From the moment he met SJ, Jeter said it was clear baseball was more than just a game to him.

“Shayne is a workhorse and went from being a newer player when we met to becoming one of the top five players in the league as a 12-year-old,” Jeter said. “His dad would always tell me that Shayne practiced baseball every day, no matter the weather, and kids like that are a coach’s dream.”

Fans who want to follow Seth and SJ’s journey in the Dominican Republic will be able to watch the games live via GameChanger. A livestream schedule will be available on the tournament website under the “Schedules” tab at usalabcbaseball.com 

As for the teammates, they’re heading into the tournament with confidence. When asked how they think Team USA will do, they answered almost in unison:

“I think we’re gonna win it!”

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