
Paul Blackburn
Photo courtesy of Bob Atlas
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Ryan Atlas
Photo courtesy of Bob Atlas
slideshow
Heritage High School varsity baseball teammates Ryan Atlas and Paul Blackburn have been selected by USA Baseball to attend the National Team Identification Series – one of the most heavily-scouted events of the fall calendar – Sept. 17-20 at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C.
The event has attracted 648 players, who with Atlas, a senior catcher, and Blackburn, a junior pitcher and shortstop, will compete for roster spots on the USA Baseball National Team.
Atlas clocked the fastest pop time and one of the top three bat speeds at the event. Blackburn pitched two scoreless innings, allowing only one hit and striking out five. His fastball was clocked at 87 mph.