AMERICAN NATIONAL EAGLES BASEBALL
The American National baseball program was founded by Jim Medlock in 1975. Jim was an insurance agent and owner of an American National Agency in Bridgeton. He was instrumental in developing the SLABA league in 1987. He served on the SLABA board the entire time. He coached at the varsity level for over 20 years, taking four varsity teams to World Series competition while participating in SLABA. Jim passed away in September of 2005 and now the SLABA organization hosts an annual Jim Medlock Memorial Wood Bat Tournament in his honor.
Their most famous alumnus is St. Louis Cardinal reliever Kyle McClellan. Kyle played for the American National Eagles from 2000-2002 before being drafted by the Cardinals. Since then, he pitched in the Cardinals organization at Johnson City, Peoria, Quad Cities, Springfield and Palm Beach before making the big leagues in April 2008.
The American National team colors are red, white and blue. Home fields are Hazelwood West High School and Bridgeton Municipal Athletic Complex (BMAC). Participants live in the base school districts of Hazelwood West and Pattonville. Open schools are Hazelwood Central, McCluer, McCluer North, Parkway North and Ritenour.
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