Aflac Honors Nation's Best High School Baseball Players

-- Aflac announced today
during an on-field presentation held at Rangers Ballpark that RHP Matthew Graham (Oak Ridge HS) of Spring; LHP Matthew Purke (Klein HS) of Spring; OF Everett Williams (McCallum HS) of Austin; OF/RHP Jacob Morris (Coppell HS) and C/IF Jonathan Walsh (Coppell HS), both of Coppell; and OF/LHP Slade Heathcott (Texas HS) of Texarkana have been selected to the 2008 Aflac All-American High School Baseball Game roster. The six stars were honored by Texas Rangers' second baseman Ian Kinsler, who presented them with their official team jerseys.

The premiere high school All-American game in the country, the Aflac
All-American Game will take place Saturday, Aug. 9 in Dodger Stadium and will be broadcast live on FOX Sports Net at noon Pacific Time.

"We're excited to have named these outstanding ballplayers to the Aflac All-American roster at the tour stop in Texas and when they play the game in August, they will also be helping us in our fight against pediatric cancer," said Al Johnson, 2nd Vice President, Advertising and Branding at Aflac.


The annual Aflac All-American High School Baseball Game showcases 38 of the nation's top high school players in an East versus West matchup following their junior year. Aflac All-Americans are chosen by the experts at our official selection partner, Perfect Game USA, and in consultation with the staff at baseball's most influential magazine, Baseball America.

As part of Aflac's ongoing commitment to the fight against childhood
cancer, all game proceeds from the 2008 Aflac All-American High School Baseball Game will benefit ThinkCure, the official charity of the Dodgers, which supports critical cancer research at City of Hope and Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles. Since 2005, the game has generated nearly $525,000 for charity.

Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith will return as this year's honorary
chairman, and in addition to promoting the game, will be on-site in Los
Angeles for game week activities. This is the second consecutive year that Smith has served as honorary chairman. Past honorary chairmen have included Hall of Famers Reggie Jackson (2006), Cal Ripken (2004-05) and Stan Musial (2003).

"I wish this game existed when I was in high school, as it's such a
tremendous opportunity for these young men to show their skills in front of a nationwide audience and MLB scouts," said Smith. "Aflac does a tremendous job promoting this game and working hard to support pediatric cancer research, and I'm proud to be a part of it once again."

The Aflac All-American High School Baseball Game is considered the
country's marquee prep All-American event. All participants must have just completed their junior year of high school, be in good academic standing and display redeeming qualities off the field that embody the ideals of the sport of baseball, including discipline, determination and hard work.

For more information and tour stop photographs, visit
http://www.aflacallamerican.com


SOURCE Aflac