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<\/p>\nJack Lafflam, 17, started in tee ball when he was about 4 or 5 years old. Still, he didn\u2019t get serious about the sport until 6 th grade, he says.
\nNow, the Brophy College Preparatory student is just one of two Arizona teens\u2014and the only one from Scottsdale\u2014who was selected to play in the 22 nd annual Dick\u2019s Sporting Goods All- American Classic, which will be held at Chase Field from Aug. 16-18. Only 62 players nationwide were selected to participate.<\/p>\n
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As the culminating event of the amateur baseball season, the All-American Classic serves as a showcase for the nation\u2019s top high school baseball talent, providing a platform to display their skills in front of an international audience via\u00a0PerfectGame.TV.\u00a0The event is also free to attend.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe selection process plays out over years of seeing players develop,\u201d says Jered Goodwin,VP of Scouting Operations\/Perfect Game. \u201cPlayers compete in Perfect Game events and High School Games over a three-year period. This all culminates when the top 300-plus players in the country compete at the Perfect Game National Showcase at Chase Field. After the National Showcase, a roster of 62 was selected to compete in the All-American Classic, which is also at Chase Field.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lafflam, a right-handed pitcher, played for Cal Ripken Baseball, North Scottsdale Little League, and then McCormick Ranch Little League before playing competitively with Scottsdale Heat and then T-Rex Baseball. He just finished his third year of travel ball with USA Prime National.<\/p>\n
\u201cJack is a little unique in terms of his current stuff and pitch ability, which is combined with massive future projection. He already does a good job of controlling the strike zone with three above average pitches. As he matures and adds strength, everything is going to improve giving him true long-term starter potential,\u201d says Goodwin. \u201cHe has cemented himself in the top tier of pitching prospects in the country and will get to compete on the biggest stage on the travel ball
\ncircuit on Aug. 18. For the event, the Perfect Game All-American Classic has produced 293 first- round MLB draft picks and 296 PGAAC alumni have made it to the major leagues, so you’re really seeing the MLB stars of tomorrow on display.\u201d<\/p>\n
Playing at Chase Field is an honor, says Lafflam, who grew up attending Arizona Diamondbacks games there. He loves the sport and all it has taught him.
\n\u201cI like how baseball is a game of failure,\u201d he shares. \u201cThose who are successful succeed 3\/10 times. It prepares you for later in life and how to deal with failure and learn from it.\u201dLafflam plans to play for the University of Arizona next year, competing at the collegiate\u00a0D1 level.
\n\u201cI then plan on entering the MLB draft later and becoming a professional baseball player,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
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For more information, visit PerfectGame.org.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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