CINCINNATI, Ohio – High school baseball is coming to Great American Ball Park in the very near future.

Hacks Sports is pleased to announce the Great American East/West All-Star Game, a high school baseball all-star game scheduled to be played on Thursday, June 19, at Great American Ball Park following the completion of the Cincinnati Reds-Chicago Cubs Business Day Special that is scheduled for 12:35 p.m. All fans who attend the Reds-Cubs game are invited to stay and watch the All-Star Game.

The event, put together by Hacks Sports, benefits the Southwest Ohio Baseball Coaches Association (SWOBCA) and will feature 60 senior players selected by the SWOBCA.

The last time the East/West All-Star Baseball Game was played on the riverfront was in 2000 at Cinergy Field. The games have been played at the University of Cincinnati the past two years.

"This event will be first time any other event has taken place at Great American Ball Park besides the Reds games. We’re excited that the Cincinnati Reds and Great American Insurance have both come together to help us promote high school baseball in Cincinnati," said Scott Hacker, event promoter and founder of Hacks Sports.

Max McLeary, longtime Greater Cincinnati umpire, who is serving as administrative director of the event, helped spearhead the movement to get the game back to a major league baseball facility.

"It all starts with the youth and we’re just trying to give something back to the coaches and kids," said McLeary. "We’re pretty excited about it. Who knows, maybe one of these days one of these players will be lucky enough to play in that ballpark all the time."

The Cincinnati Reds organization has stepped to the plate as gracious hosts. In keeping with their "Spirit of Baseball" theme and showing support for the high school baseball community, the Reds are providing rent-free use of the stadium, charging only nominal fees for staffing.

"We are honored to host the Great American East/West All Star Game here at Great American Ball Park. This game immediately following the Reds-Cubs game truly epitomizes the true spirit of baseball. The preceding Major League Baseball game represents the current state of this great game of baseball, while the high school game reflects its future," said Declan Mullin, senior director of ballpark operations for the Cincinnati Reds.

Greater Cincinnati has long been known for producing baseball players who have gone on to achieve success at the professional level, from Pete Rose, Barry Larkin and Ken Griffey Jr. to Todd Benzinger, Bill Doran and Ron Oester. Great American East/West All-Star Game participants will also get a chance to keep that tradition alive by participating in "Scout Day" on Sunday, June 1, at Xavier University, where a multitude of scouts will gather to watch the players take part in batting and fielding drills followed by a doubleheader.

Hacks Sports (www.hacksportsmarketing.com) is considered to be one of the leading sports marketing companies in the region and operates under four distinct business units, including Publishing, Events, Promotions and Apparel. Products and promotions include Hacks 9Sports Magazine and Website, high school sporting events, media partnerships, clothing apparel and more.

Hacks Sports is owned and operated by Reach Publishing Systems, Inc., publishers of Reach Magazine, a direct mail product produced in 15 cities across the United States. Other Reach consumer brand publications include Housetrends, Hometown Golf Magazine, InTouch Magazine and Cincinnati Bell New Neighbor Book.

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For more information on the Great American East/West All-Star Game (team coaches, rosters, and more) log onto http://www.hacksportsmarketing.com/EventsDivision.baseball.allstargame.htm.

To download the official Great American East/West All-Star Game logo log onto: http://www.hacksportsmarketing.com/EventsDivision.baseball.allstargame.logo.htm.