SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today officially marks the release of the full 46-player roster for the 2011 Perfect Game All-American Classic presented by Rawlings. The nation’s top high school baseball players will descend upon San Diego to play in the ninth annual baseball showcase, featuring an East versus West matchup. The 2011 game will be played Aug. 14 at 5 p.m. PDT at PETCO Park, home of the San Diego Padres, and will be nationally televised live on CBS Sports Network.
The Perfect Game All-American Classic is more than just a game. It is part of an ongoing commitment to the fight against childhood cancer, with ticket proceeds benefiting Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego. Since 2003, the Perfect Game All-American Classic has generated nearly $675,000 for charity.
“We are excited to once again be back in San Diego for the nation’s premier high school baseball game, the Perfect Game All-American Classic,” said David Gardiner President of Blue Ridge Sports & Entertainment. “This is our third year playing at PETCO Park, and we are happy to be working with our partners to ensure a top-notch event and showcase the players to the country. The icing on the cake is how the game benefits the local community by giving back to Rady Children’s Hospital.”
The Perfect Game All-Americans will be led by a stellar coaching staff for the 2011 showcase. Stuart Chester of Cartersville High School in Cartersville, Ga. will lead the East squad. Chester has been a head baseball coach for 18 years, winning five state championships while at Cartersville High School. His program was recently voted Program of the Decade in Georgia.
Managing the West squad will be Andrew Nieto of Bishop Amat High School in La Puente, Calif. In five seasons, Nieto has led the Lancers to three CIF championships. Prior to coaching at Bishop Amat, Nieto served as the hitting coach for the University of Southern California for 10 years and helped guide the Trojans to the NCAA National Championship in 1998.
"I am impressed with the extraordinary high school talent the All-American Baseball Classic brings to the forefront of the baseball world each year," said Jerry Ford, President of Perfect Game USA. "These 2012 prospects have the ability to represent the next wave of Major League stars."
Perfect Game All-American Classic alumni have had a significant presence in Major League Baseball’s first-year player drafts. Since the game’s inception in 2003, 98 alumni have been selected in the first round, including this year’s first overall pick Gerrit Cole (2011) and past No. 1 picks Bryce Harper (2010), Tim Beckham (2008), and Justin Upton (2005). The game has also produced over 40 players that are currently on a Major League Baseball roster. A record 18 Perfect Game All-Americans were taken in the first round of the 2011 draft, 13 of which played in last year’s game.
The Perfect Game All-American Classic is considered the nation’s marquee prep event. Participants must have just completed their junior year of high school, be in good academic standing and display qualities off the field that embody baseball’s ideals, including discipline, determination and hard work.
For the full 2011 roster please visit PGAllAmerican.com.
For information regarding credentials, please contact Jesse Lovejoy at JesseL@sdhoc.com.
Tickets to the game can be purchased at Padres.com.
About Perfect Game USA
Perfect Game USA is devoted to furthering the development and career of the high school baseball player. To that end, Perfect Game USA produces the very highest, national level, individual player showcases and team tournaments all over the United States. These events have proven invaluable to the collegiate coaching community and Major League Baseball as they can scout a large population of talented baseball players in one location. Perfect Game USA has a full-time staff of 50 and well over 100 part-time staff. Nearly all have vast professional and/or collegiate baseball experience. Perfect Game staff members are located throughout the country. Perfect Game USA has the largest scouting department in all of baseball. The Perfect Game USA high school player database is the largest of its kind anywhere in baseball. At any given time there will be nearly 100,000 high school players being followed via their database.