NATION’S TOP HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL PLAYERS RETURN TO SAN DIEGO FOR 2010 AFLAC ALL-AMERICAN BASEBALL CLASSIC AT PETCO PARK, HOME OF THE SAN DIEGO PADRES

SAN DIEGO – For the eighth year, 38 of the nation’s top high school baseball players will come together to play in the Aflac All-American Baseball Classic, the country’s premier high school baseball showcase. This year’s game will be played Aug. 15, at PETCO Park, home of the San Diego Padres, and will be nationally televised live on FOX Sports Net. The game has been played in San Diego for four of the past five years.

The Aflac All-American Baseball Classic features an East versus West matchup of the nation’s top high school players following their junior year. The game will be played in a major league venue for the third consecutive year.

The Aflac All-American Baseball Classic is part of Aflac’s ongoing commitment to the fight against childhood cancer, with a portion of the proceeds from this year’s event benefiting Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego. Since 2003, the Classic has generated more than $800,000 for charity.

Aflac Baseball Classic alumni have made a huge impact on Major League Baseball’s first-year player drafts. Ten Aflac All-Americans were taken in the first round of the 2009 draft, including the No. 3 pick, Donavan Tate, by the Padres. San Diego also drafted 2008 Aflac All-Americans Everett Williams and Keyvius Sampson.  Since the game’s inception in 2003, 62 alumni have been selected in the first round, including  No. 1 overall selections:  Justin Upton (2005, Arizona), and 2008 top pick, Tim Beckham (2008, Tampa Bay).

The Aflac Baseball Classic is considered the country’s marquee prep All-American 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.

More details about the 2010 Classic and players will be available at a press conference to be held at PETCO Park prior to a Padres game in May.   

About Aflac
When a policyholder gets sick or hurt, Aflac pays cash benefits fast. For 55 years, Aflac insurance policies have given policyholders the opportunity to focus on recovery, not financial stress. In the United States, Aflac is the number one provider of guaranteed-renewable insurance. In Japan, Aflac is the number one insurance company in terms of individual insurance policies in force. Aflac insurance products provide protection to more than 50 million people worldwide. Aflac has been recognized by Ethispheremagazine as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for four consecutive years and was also named by the Reputation Institute as the Most Reputable Company in the Global Insurance Industry for two consecutive years. Forbesmagazine named Aflac as America’s Best-Managed Company in the Insurance category. In 2010, Fortunemagazine recognized Aflac as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America for the twelfth consecutive year and also included Aflac on its list of Most Admired Companies for the ninth time. Aflac Incorporated is a Fortune 500 company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AFL. To find out more about Aflac, visit aflac.com.

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