EMERSON,
Ga. – Many Perfect Game regulars showed up for the PG EvoShield
Classic at Perfect Game Park South at LakePoint. Among them are a
pitcher-catcher duo, Christopher Cullen and Chad Foster, playing for
the Denny Pritchett Jayhawks 17/18u.
Foster
is a righthanded pitcher from Roswell, Ga. He just graduated this
spring and will be going to University of West Georgia this fall to
play baseball.
“I’m
excited about it,” said Foster about playing at West Ga. “I like
the coach, he is really awesome. We’re starting in September and I
can’t wait. I’m already practicing for it almost every day. I’m
long tossing every other day and in between those days I’m working
out with the workouts they gave me at West Ga. I’m also running and
doing a little bit of batting practice in between that.”
Foster
first started coming to Perfect Game events in 2010 and has attended
almost all of the events held in Ga. He attended many events at East
Cobb, and is impressed with the new complex at LakePoint.
“These
fields are amazing, they’re the best fields I’ve been on,” said
Foster. “It just gets a little bit hot out there, but besides that,
everything is amazing about the fields.”
At
the 2014 WWBA 18u National Championship in June, Foster made the
all-tournament team. He had hopes of making it this time, however, a
family vacation will restrain him to only three innings this
tournament.
“I’m
only showing up for today because I am going on a family trip. My
goal was to make the all-tournament team but I only pitched three
innings so I don’t think that will happen. I just was trying to do
as well as possible in the innings I got.”
His
catcher for the day, Cullen, is a 6-foot-5, 197 pound righty from
Cumming, Ga. He plays baseball at West Forsyth high school.
“Coach
Mike Pruitt for West Forsyth high school, he’s done a lot for me,”
explained Cullen. “He attracts scouts to our high school games and
puts in a good word. He’s helped me a lot with the recruiting
process and everything so I thank him for that.”
When
he graduates in 2015, he will play baseball at the University of
South Carolina. During the recruiting process, he narrowed his option
down to USC, University of Georgia, and Vanderbilt, but finally chose
USC.
“I
went on two visits there and it’s just a special place,”
explained Cullen about USC. “I went to a couple football games just
to experience the campus life there and I just had a blast. I felt
like that was where I was most comfortable. I felt like I fit in the
best there out of all the colleges I had to choose from…I’ve
always wanted to go out of state but as the decision came down to it,
I can’t really think about that, just what’s best for the family
and what’s best for [me]”
Like
Foster, Cullen has attended a number of Perfect Game events over the
years. He is ranked No. 126 nationally in the class of 2015. He was
also named second team All-American both in 2013 and 2014.
“It’s
an honor to be ranked among the best players in the nation,” said
Cullen. “I’m never really satisfied so every day I keep working,
but rankings are rankings and I just go out there and have fun and
not worry about that stuff.
“Being
recognized as second team All-American in the United States among
players from all over the nation, words can’t really describe it.
But still, every day I’m going to work hard, continue my career
after high school and work hard there.”
Cullen
has been attending the PG tournaments held in Ga. since 2011,
including the East Cobb Invitational, WWBA and the World Series.
“It’s
awesome,” said Cullen about his experience with Perfect Game.
“These Perfect Game tournaments attract the best teams in the
nation so you’re going to find the best competition here. Of
course, we have these nice facilities and it’s a blast to play on.
I’ve been to Perfect Game tournaments throughout my life and have
always had a blast. It’s a pretty great experience.”
Three
years ago, Cullen had the opportunity every player wishes he could
have.
“In
2011 I played for the U.S National Team and went down to Venezuela
for the Pan-American games. We went 8-0 and won the gold medal there.
You get to see everything, the best teams from each nation. I loved
the experience,” explained Cullen.
Cullen
has been playing baseball for “as long as [he] can remember.” He
started at tee ball and has hopes of making it to the MLB one day to
play for the Braves. Baseball is important to him and always will be.
“You
just gotta go out there and have fun and remember it’s just a
game,” added Cullen. “Eventually when baseball is done I want to
stick by the game a little bit. Maybe be an announcer, or GM or
something like that.”