Local Pitcher Pitches Perfect Inning in All-American Game

The East squad defeated the West squad, 5-3, in the 2010 AFLAC All-American Baseball Classic this past weekend, and Milton native — and soon to be senior at Dexter School — John Magliozzi made his presence felt.

The young right-hander threw a 1-2-3 inning in the eighth to help preserve the victory. He reportedly topped out at 97 mph on the radar gun and got two ground ball outs and a fly ball out to record the clean inning and get out of his experience in the premiere high school All-Star Game unscathed.

"It was an 11 pitch inning," said Magliozzi, "So, it went quick."

The week in San Diego was anything but quick for Magliozzi. He said he was one of the first players to arrive to pick up a plethora of new equipment and gear. The following day, Magliozzi and players from both squads visited the Rady Children's Hospital and Health Center in San Diego to meet with children who were dealing with serious illnesses.

"We played games with them and showed them a good time," said Magliozzi.

A few days into the trip, Magliozzi came down with a little bit of a sickness himself as he had to be hospitalized with a bout of food poisoning. Doctors told him to take it easy on game day, especially because he had to take two IVs the day before the game, but Magliozzi was having none of it.

"The doctor said I should probably not play and I said, 'Yeah right. There is no way I'm not playing in this game.'"

Magliozzi made it to the mound and proved his worth with a scoreless inning in the eighth. He has been splitting time as a starter and reliever for his summer team, and he said when he does get the call for the one inning he likes to "gas it up a little bit."

Generally, Magliozzi works in the 93 to 95 mph range when he is a starter, but he touched 97 mph twice, which he said was the highest he's every been clocked at.

Being on a Major League mound at PETCO Park, the home of the San Diego Padres, was a thrill for the youngster. It will give him a little more fuel going into his senior year at Dexter and then on to the University of Florida after that. Magliozzi said he wants to be a mainstay on a professional mound in the near future, but for now, he will always have that week in San Diego.

He said, "I'll always be able to say I played in the AFLAC All-American game."