THIRTY-SIX GRADUATING SENIORS HIT THE FIELD AT BUSCH STADIUM LAST WEEK FOR THE DELTA DENTAL HIGH SCHOOL ALL-STAR BASEBALL GAME

ST. LOUIS, MO (June 14, 2016) – Thirty-six of the area’s most elite high school baseball players hit the field at Busch Stadium last week to compete in the Delta Dental High School All-Star Baseball Game. After a hard-fought, action-packed game the “All-Star Green Team,” coached by former St. Louis Cardinals alum, Kerry Robinson, defeated the “All-Star Blue Team,” coached by fellow Cardinals alum, Scott Cooper, six to five. This represents the first win for Robinson, who along with Cooper, have been coaching the Delta Dental High School All-Star Baseball Game since its inception six years ago.

Right fielder Josh Ray of Seckman High School was named MVP. He had four hits – two doubles and two singles. The game was preceded by a Homerun Derby competition, in which Bailey Vuylsteke of Oakville High School captured the winning title. Anthony Green of Pattonville High School was the runner-up.

The all-stars were all 2016 graduated seniors from public schools throughout the St. Louis area. Each was selected for the game by his school’s coaching staff back in May, and then “drafted” to either the “All-Star Blue Team” or “All-Star Green Team” by head coaches Cooper and Robinson. Both Cooper and Robinson are St. Louis natives, who also played high school baseball for the Pattonville Pirates and Hazelwood East Spartans, respectively.

This is Delta Dental of Missouri’s 6th consecutive all-star game, and it was once again held in conjunction with the organization’s Tobacco-Free Nation Project, which is aimed at raising awareness about the harms of tobacco usage. Each all-star player signed a pledge declaring they do not smoke or chew tobacco products and are willing to advocate for healthy lifestyle choices on and off the field.

The game demonstrates our commitment to the youth in our community,” commented Rob Goren, president and CEO of Delta Dental of Missouri. “Our mission is to improve oral and overall health, and tobacco use is a major driver of poor health. Through this game, we are helping to raise awareness about the importance of making healthy lifestyle choices and the role those choices play in establishing and maintaining healthy mouths and healthy bodies.

Delta Dental is the dental benefits leader in Missouri and the U.S. Ninety-four percent of Missouri dentists participate in a Delta Dental network and 4 out of 5 dentists participate nationally. In Missouri, more than 1.7 million members in over 1,800 companies, large and small, choose Delta Dental. Nationally, nearly 1 in 3 families with dental benefits choose Delta Dental - 56 million members from nearly 96,000 companies. Delta Dental is also committed to improving the oral health and overall health of the children in our community and therefore proudly supports the Delta Dental Land of SmilesSM educational touring theater program, Delta Dental Health Theatre and Give Kids A Smile.