SAN DIEGO -- On Monday morning, the USA Baseball 18U Trials Team took a break from its normal practice schedule to drive down the coast to San Diego for a special meeting. The team visited with Navy SEALS at the Coronado Naval Training Base.

"Part of the responsibility of representing your country in baseball is being exposed to those that represent our freedom everyday," said 18U National Team Director Brant Ust. "Wearing the flag on their sleeve has a lot deeper meaning to them, so interacting with the SEALS today changed all of us in a positive way and I look forward to building upon the lessons they imparted on us."

The visit started in a classroom setting where the team watched a video explaining the SEAL pipeline, entailing the year-and-a-half training process that each SEAL goes through.

Following the video introduction, the team was able to discuss aspects of mental toughness with a pair of SEALS stationed at Coronado.

The SEALS highlighted four important aspects of mental toughness: 1) Goal setting; 2) Visualization; 3) Self-talk; and 4) Stress Control. Each of these four things was paired with a personal story from the SEALS and related to the task at hand for Team USA going to represent the United States in international competition.

The SEALS then asked the team to put its mental toughness aspects to the test with a set of push-ups. The team ended up doing plenty of extra sets of 15 as it could not follow the detailed rules the SEALS had set out for them. Eventually, the team was able to shape up and complete the ordered task.

With some soreness in their arms, the team set off with the SEALS across the base for a demonstration on the infamous O Course (Obstacle), before finally visiting the armoury and getting to check out some of the SEALS weapons.

The trip proved to be motivational for the team, as they got to talk with SEALS that had fought for the United States overseas. The SEALS finished the trip by breaking down the team and giving a few words of encouragement including reminding the team that they are "Ambassadors for our country" during the time in Taiwan and South Korea.

The team continues its west coast exhibition scheduled on Monday night at 9:00 p.m. ET (6 p.m. local) against the Brewers Scout Team at Goodwin Field on the campus of California State University, Fullerton.