Avery Seaton Attends Perfect Game World Championship
MADISON- The dream of playing Major League Baseball began eight years ago for Avery Seaton and most recently was rejuvenated in his quest when he was chosen from among hundreds for the prestigious Perfect Game Freshman World Championship in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Actually, Seaton, a freshman at Madison Academy High, has been a part of the Perfect Game Baseball program three times this year. He first went to the Elite Development Invitational in Vero Beach, Fla. in June, where he qualified for the Perfect Game program by being one of 25 chosen among the 300 players in attendance and returned to the Sunshine State at West Palm Beach for a one week stay in mid-July. He was chosen to be among the 25-player roster for the Freshman World Championship and was the only player from Alabama picked to be among the elite players from across the country.
“It was a little scary at the beginning, but after I got started I wasn’t nervous at all,” said Seaton. “I played well at all three events and the experience was great.”
Seaton, son of Arthur and Ashley Seaton, is a strapping teen that stands 5-foot-11 and weighs in at 200 pounds. He plays backup quarterback and linebacker for the Mustangs’ football team and was on the varsity baseball team just in time for the end of last season where Madison Academy was the Class 4A state runner-up losing to UMS-Wright in the state finals.
“I really saw Avery become a leader during his stay in Florida,” said his father, Arthur. Madison Academy head baseball coach David Pressley said of his freshman player, “Avery is a great talent and a great kid. We’re excited about having him on our varsity team. He works hard and competes every day.”
Growing up in the area, Seaton played his youth baseball in Monrovia at Philips Park and has played on several travel teams. He spoke of his injury experience when he was 10 years old of how he broke his nose when hit by a pitch. “I wore a protective mask for three weeks.”
In the most recent trip to Florida for the Freshman World Championship, Seaton and his team played four games where the squad went 2-2. He batted .385 and was most impressive to the attending scouts both professional and college. College baseball programs such as Purdue and Wake Forest showed lots of interest in his talents. While attending the week-long events, he was put through a battery of skills training and game situations. He awoke at 5:45 a.m. each morning and was on the baseball field each day by 8:30 a.m. and remained there until 6:00 p.m. Seaton added about his experiences, “I had fun with my teammates as we were all on a mission of playing well.”
Seaton can hit for power and average. He feels his leadership skills, being of good character and his skills as a baseball player make him an all-around athlete who has visions of helping Madison Academy make its way towards another run at a state championship. Not to mention, the ultimate dream of becoming a Hall of Fame player in Major League Baseball.
