CARY, N.C. — Connor Ollio is going for the gold.

The incoming Butler High School sophomore recently made the Team USA Under-15 team and will be in Mexico for the next nine days competing in the Class AA Pan-Am Championships.

“Nine days, eight games, trying to win the gold,” Ollio said Thursday. “That's all I know. I don't even know who we're playing tomorrow.”

He's just happy he's still playing, period.

Ollio was one of 40 players nationwide trying to make the final 20-man Team USA roster. The 40 players just completed a series of workouts after going through a tryout camp Aug. 9-14.

That camp included a five-game tryout portion to help determine the roster.

“We had a practice and a game every day during that period,” Ollio said. “That fifth game, I figured my fate might come down to that because I didn't play very well in my other two games.

“I needed to have a good game to get on the team.”

He had one.

Ollio produced two singles in as many at bats, knocking home a run. He tossed three scoreless frames on the mound as well, striking out three.

“I was more confident than nervous,” Ollio said of that final game. “I never get nervous that much. Get into the zone, go out there and play. That's all it is.”

Only two of Team USA's 20 players are from the northeastern part of the country — Ollio and infielder Justyn-Henry Malloy of Bergenfield, N.J. Six players are from Florida, six are from California. Other players are from Texas, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and North Carolina.

Butler boys basketball coach Matt Clement, who has worked with Ollio's pitching as well as having him on the basketball team, wasn't surprised by the player's clutch performance.

“He's one of those kids who rises to the occasion,” Clement said. “Last year, in our (off-season) basketball league when we were short on players, I put him in against New Castle as a freshman and he delivers eight points and six rebounds. And basketball's not even his prime sport.”

Ollio spent his second straight summer playing elite travel ball in Florida. When he was home in Butler briefly, he participated in five open gyms.

“That's just how he is,” Clement said. “Connor has a dedication and motivation level that's rare for someone his age. He's extremely coachable, too.

“He can spot his fastball on the outside corner, running it away from right-hand hitters. Once you can do that, you can do a lot of things on the mound. He's doing stuff now that I didn't learn to do until I was 23 or 24. Fastball, curve, slider, changeup ... He can throw any of those at any time in the count and do it with confidence.”

Ollio said he will play “a little first base” at the Pan-Am Games, but figures to spend most of his time on the mound.

“I'm grateful for having the opportunity I've got right now,” he said. “These guys I'm playing with are the best in the country. This is definitely the highest level I've ever played at.”

Ollio pitched three innings and struck out three in Team USA's final tune-up game before heading to Mexico. The team scored a 5-1 victory against an East Coast all-star team.

“He's 15 and he's going to represent his country in an international tournament,” Clement said. “Forget everything else. I just hope he lives in the moment.”

Ollio plans to do just that.

“It's baseball. I'm going to have fun and enjoy it,” he said.