The Kannapolis Cannon Ballers will open another chapter in Kannapolis’ baseball history when they welcome fans on Sunday, July 2, at 6 p.m., for a matchup between Team USA’s Collegiate National Team and Chinese Taipei at Atrium Health Ballpark. On top of the celebration of the nation’s best young stars, the game will feature post-game fireworks as a thrilling cap-off of the night’s festivities at Atrium Health Ballpark.

It is the first time in 14 years that the stars and stripes will pay a visit to Kannapolis, where they hold an all-time record of 4-1. The last time Team USA played in Kannapolis was July 1, 2009, when they took down Guatemala in a resounding 15-1 victory at Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium.

Team USA is composed of the top non-draft eligible players from across the nation at the collegiate level. It has featured much of the game’s top talent in recent memory, with the 2022 iteration of the team holding both of the projected top selections in the upcoming 2023 MLB First-Year Player Draft in LSU’s OF Dylan Crews and RHP Paul Skenes. The Cannon Ballers boast an alumnus of the 2021 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team in Chicago White Sox 2022 fourth round pick INF Jordan Sprinkle, who used his time with Team USA to refine his skills before returning for one more season to UC-Santa Barbara, where he earned his draft selection.

This year’s team will be led by current Cal Poly head coach Larry Lee, who is making his managerial debut for Team USA in his second overall appearance on the staff. Lee is the winningest coach in Big West Conference history, amassing 635 wins with Cal Poly and 1,095 in his career.

The Collegiate National Team starts their summer of games with Training Camp from June 25-29 in Cary, N.C., where 56 players will be whittled down to 26 for the 20th iteration of the USA vs. Chinese Taipei International Friendship Series, June 30-July 4.

Kannapolis hosts the third of five scheduled games, with the first taking place at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, followed by a matchup in Durham both the day before and after the game in Kannapolis. The series completes with a July 4 matchup in Fayetteville, N.C.

Tickets are now on sale for the Team USA vs. Chinese Taipei matchup on Sunday, July 2 at Atrium Health Ballpark, with Home Plate Premium seats set at $15 and Infield Box seats at $12. Fans can purchase tickets online at kcballers.com or at the F&M Bank Box Office located along West Avenue outside Gate One at Atrium Health Ballpark.