How many 17-year-olds can say they have pitched from the hallowed mound of Chicago’s Wrigley Field in front of a nationally televised audience? The answer: not many. But on Saturday, Aug. 8, Roswell’s own Andrew Smith will join those ranks as a 2009 Under Armour High School Baseball All-American.

Smith – a rising Roswell High School senior – was selected in addition to 35 of the top prep juniors and seniors in the country to play in the game, which debuted in 2005. The players were selected by a committee of Baseball Factory and Team One Baseball scouts, and approximately 100 scouts and college coaches attended last year’s game to evaluate the Under Armour All-Americans. Seven players from the 2008 game were selected in the first round of the 2009 MLB Draft.

“I think it was just the right timing,” said Smith. “[The scouts] saw me when I was doing well, working hard, and I guess they liked what they saw. It’s a real honor.”

The game, which will be aired nationally by ESPNU, features coaching staffs comprised of former Major League Baseball players. Smith will play for the Baseball Factory team, along with four other Georgia natives including infielder Zach Alvord, an Alpharetta resident who attends South Forsyth High School.

At 6-feet-2-inches, Smith relies on a two-seam fastball which tops out at 93 miles per hour on the radar gun, as well as a curveball with 12-to-6 breaking action. During the 2008 season, Smith posted a 6-4 record with a 3.30 earned run average for the 21-7 Hornets. Though he aspires to be selected in the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft, Smith has verbally commited to attend college baseball power North Carolina.

“I just have to make sure I’m mentally ready. I can’t let anything faze me up there,” Smith said last week, in reference to the upcoming game. Contacts for the game have told Smith he can expect to work one inning of action while sharing the pitching rubber with other hurlers.

Smith said he was in awe while attending a Cubs game at historic Wrigley Field in 2007, but anticipates standing on the mound in Chicago will be even more exhilarating.

“It’s kinda mind-blowing,” he said. “I’ve played in two other pro stadiums in Tampa Bay and Minnesota, and both of those were amazing, but those games weren’t worth as much as this one.”

As for his future, Smith looks forward to finishing out his prep career strong for the Hornets in 2010. Afterwards, he said he is ready for the next challenge, whether it be a potential trip to Omaha and the College World Series with the Tar Heels, or pitching for a minor league farm club following the draft.

“My senior season I wanna come out and help the team win,” he said. “Hopefully we’ll do well and get to the state championship.

“Just like every other kid, I want to be in the pros. I just gotta keep working hard and not take a day off to make sure I get there.”