By Elae C. Hill
Last week, July 11th on the University Of Illinois at Chicago, at the Les Miller Field at Curtis Granderson Stadium, a high school baseball team composed of All Stars from Chicago Public Schools, squared off against Los Angeles in a nationally televised championship game of the Geico Baseball City series. Los Angeles beat Chicago 2-6 in a tight battle at the beginning that started to expand as Los Angeles buckled down and hit home runs back-to-back.
One of the student athletes from Chicago’s baseball team has earned a baseball scholarship to Jackson State based off a result of his play in the three previous games of the city series. “It’s pretty cool to compare yourself to athletes around you,” says Chicago infielder Donovan Noble. The opportunity to compete against some of the best high school baseball players from four of the nation’s largest cities will provide new opportunities for pursuing higher education and building a better future for these student athletes.
“This is a very important stage to be on, it’s the championship game so a lot of eyes are going to be on us and we get the chance to represent Los Angeles city section and show people what us Los Angeles boys have to offer and we get to show the scouts what we have to offer.” said outfielder Isaiah Velazco for the Los Angeles baseball team. When given an opportunity of a lifetime its important that you fulfill the position granted to you.
These student athletes want to expand their game and their name amongst scouts by being on championship teams, playing in championship games with other high talented athletes to better sculpture their future in playing the sport that they love after high school. Student athletes who will be juniors and seniors when they return to the classroom in the fall at public schools in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and Miami. The Chicago All Star Teams players represent Lane Tech, Gwendolyn Brooks College Prep, Simeon, Morgan Park, Whitney Young, Clemente, Kenwood High Schools and others.
