Pedzisa mutsara unotevera: Ballard akaita kutanga kwake kwenyika yose neTeam USA pa2000 IIHF World U18 Championships muSwitzerland. Akashevedzwa kuchikwata ichi achitamba muNational Under-18 Development Program yemwaka wa1999 kusvika 2000. Akapa chibodzwa uye rubatsiro mumitambo mitanhatu, sezvo United States yakapedza panzvimbo yechisere. Makore maviri gare gare, Ballard akatumidzwa zita kuchikwata chepasi pemakore 20 che
2001 World Junior Championships muCzech Republic. Akatamba mumitambo minomwe, achinyora chinangwa uye rubatsiro. United States yakarasikirwa mumakwikwi ekupedzisira kusvika kuRussia uye yakaenda kunzvimbo yechishanu mushure mekukunda Sweden 3<unk>2 mumutambo wekunyaradza.