Bermuda Longtails will be heading to the United States to compete in the Memorial Day Classic in Sandusky, Ohio, in May.

Consisting of three teams across three age groups, (under-8, under-10 and under-12), the Bermuda Longtails travelling party will be made up of 37 student-athletes, with players for the selected after a thorough trials process in September last year.

Those chosen are current athletes within Youth Athletic Organisation Bermuda Baseball organisation, a charity supporting 325 young baseball players with the help of 75 volunteers around the island.

Participation in the Ohio tournament will mean this batch of players will become the latest Longtails generation to train locally and compete internationally.

The programme began in 2016 with one team travelling overseas annually but the initiative has now grown to allow three teams to head abroad.

Dan Linden, the head of Longtails and coach of the under-8 team, has sons playing in two of the three teams, with his eldest, Austin, taking part in last year’s Father's Day Showdown, a United States Amateur Baseball League-sanctioned event, held in New Jersey.

"I'm so proud of the progress the Longtails programme has made," Linden said.

“Baseball is an integral part of sports in Bermuda and this programme gives our young athletes an international experience they would not have had otherwise.

“However, this has been a collective team effort and we couldn't do it without the help of our volunteer coaches who motivate these children to reach their full potential every step of the way."

Troy Dort, head coach of the under-10 team, was in charge of the side that went to New Jersey last year.

"It was the experience of a lifetime," Dort said. “These children have worked very hard all year so I’m looking forward to competing in Ohio this May.”