Aflac game returns to San Diego with two more San Diegans

05-14-2007

By Tom Shanahan, San Diego Hall of Champions

San Diego, living up to its reputation for turning some of the best high school baseball talent in the nation, will again be represented by two All-Americans when the fifth annual Aflac All-American Baseball Classic returns to San Diego this summer.

The San Diego Hall of Champions is a sponsor for the game that will be played at noon on Aug. 11 at San Diego State's Tony Gwynn Stadium for the second straight year. The game will be televised by Fox Sports.

Fallbrook High's Clark Murphy, a first baseman outfielder, and Valhalla High's Ryan O'Sullivan, right-handed pitcher and shortstop, were selected among for the East vs. West game that features the top 38 players players in the nation that are entering their senior year of high school. The Aflac game is the equivalent of the McDonald's All-American High School basketball game.

The players and the date for the game were announced on May 16 at press conference at Petco Park with Murphy, O'Sullivan and Padres players. The Aflac game will be played at noon Pacific time and televised by Fox Sports.

Baseball Hall-of-Famer Ozzie Smith, who started his Major League Baseball career with the Padres from 1978-82, is the honorary chairman. There will be a pre-game ceremony at 6:45 p.m. with Smith and the 2007 Aflac All-Americans before the Padres' game on May 16 against the Reds.

O'Sullivan joins his brother, Sean, as an Aflac All-American. Sean played in the 2004 game is now a pitcher in the Los Angeles Angels' system. Sean and Ryan are the first brothers to both be named Aflac All-Americans.

Murphy has given UCLA and early oral commitment, but O'Sullivan remains uncommitted.

Murphy and Ryan O'Sullivan are the eighth and ninth San Diegans selected to the game. In addition to Sean O'Sullivan, the other San Diegans have been Mission Bay's Matt Bush, 2003, now playing shortstop with the Padres' system; Rancho Bernardo's John Drennen, 2004, now playing the outfield with the Indians' system; Eastlake's Nick Romero, 2004, now at San Diego State; Rancho Buena Vista's Gavin Brooks, 2005, now at UCLA; Mission Bay's Sequoyah Stonecipher, 2006; and Francis Parker's Nick Noonan, 2006.

Tom Shanahan can be contacted at 619-699-2334 or toms@sdhoc.com.