Day Three: Home Run Derby First Round and Awards Banquet

Saturday, August 14, 2010

San Diego- The Aflac All-Americans took the field this morning for their final workout at Cunningham Field on the University of San Diego campus. The morning workout concluded with the first round of the Home Run Derby. When it was over, Francisco Lindor, Christian Lopes, Josh Tobias, and Travis Harrison had advanced to Sunday afternoon’s finals.

The players would later have a formal reception to meet the Aflac All-American Classic’s honorary chairman, Andre Dawson.

Later that evening the players were presented with personalized baseball bats from Rawlings and the All-Americans will then be taking part in signing their baseball cards made courtesy of Topps.

To conclude the evening, the Aflac Awards dinner was held at the San Diego Hall of Champions where standout performers both on and off the field were honored.

The top honor of the night went to LHP Daniel Norris, when he won the Aflac National High School Player of the Year and was presented with the 2010 Jackie Robinson Award – Norris was also named Pitching Prospect of the Year by Baseball America.

On hand to make the presentation was Sonya Pankey, granddaughter of Jackie Robinson, and Hall of Famer Andre Dawson, the Aflac All-American Classic’s honorary chairman.

In addition to Norris fellow All-Americans were also honored at the awards ceremony. For his outstanding abilities with his glove, Austin Hedges won the Rawlings Defensive Player of the Year award. In a balloting of coaches, players and staff, Jose Fernandez won the Perfect Game Nick Adenhart Award. The award bears the name of Nick Adenhart, a 2003 Aflac All-American who was killed in an automobile accident hours after making his first start this season for the Los Angeles Angels.

On hand to make the presentation was Sonya Pankey, granddaughter of Jackie Robinson, and Hall of Fame outfielder Andre Dawson, the Aflac All-American Classic’s honorary chairman.

Also during the banquet, Aflac, as part of its ongoing commitment to the fight against childhood cancer, donated $25,000 to Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego. Since 2003, the Aflac All-American Classic has generated more than $905,000 for charity.

Now the only thing left is the game. The players will head down to Petco Park at 11AM for lunch and player warm-ups. The Home Run Derby finals will be at 4 p.m. PT with the game to follow at 5 p.m. This East vs. West match-up of the nation’s 38 top players will be broadcast live at 5 p.m. PT on Fox Sports Net.