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Fullerton 12-year-old powers his way to Junior Homerun Derby at this year’s MLB All-Star Game

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Ryan Prescott’s favorite baseball player is Mike Trout.

Time will tell, but the way Ryan is hitting homeruns, he may one day enjoy the same superstar status as the Angels’ outfielder.

For now though, Ryan, 12, will have to settle for a face-to-face meeting with the two-time American League MVP.

Ryan, a Fullerton resident, will get to meet Trout, not to mention a bunch of other all stars at the Major League Baseball All-Star Game at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.

  • Ryan Prescott, 12, a member of the Placentia PONY all-star team, practices his swing by hitting off a batting tee. Prescott is competing in the Junior Home Run Derby, which takes place at Nationals Park in Washington D.C. during All-Star Week. . (Courtesy of Lou Ponsi)

  • Ryan Prescott, 12, posed for a photo with his father, Don, and mother, Cindy, after Ryan finished batting practice in preparation for the Junior Home Run Derby competition. (Courtesy of Lou Ponsi)

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  • Coach Scott Stroud of Diamond Elite Sports Academy in La Habra, left, has been working with Ryan Prescott, right, in preparation for Prescott’s Junior Home Run Derby Competition. (Courtesy of Lou Ponsi)

  • Ryan Prescott, 12, of Fullerton is competing in the Junior Home Run Derby, which takes place during Major League Baseball All-Star Week at Nationals Park in Washington D.C. (Courtesy of Lou Ponsi)

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Ryan, who is a Placentia PONY League all-star and plays for the Diamond Elite travel ball team of La Habra, is one of eight youngsters in his age group from across the country who will compete in the Junior Homerun Derby competition, which will take place during All-Star Week in July.

“It feels pretty awesome,” said Ryan at a recent hitting session at the Sunny Hills High School field. “I feel a little bit nervous. I just hope I do good.”

Ryan’s journey to the All-Star Game started with a local Junior Homerun Derby competition in May in Anaheim, where he belted seven of 10 pitches over the fence to finish first among roughly 30 competitors.

From there, Ryan, who attends Beechwood Elementary School in Fullerton, advanced to a regional competition in Chino Hills, where he was one of about 40 competitors who won their respective local competitions.

The Chino Hills regional consisted of two rounds, with the top four homerun hitters from the first round advancing to the final round.

Ryan finished third with seven homers in the first round and then hit nine in the championship round to win the competition.

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By the way, Ryan also led his PONY League with 11 homeruns this season.

“I think it is the experience of a lifetime,” said Diamond Elite coach Scott Stroud, who is also Ryan’s hitting coach and has been working with the slugger four about three years. “Not too many kids get to do this.”

Ryan always had plenty of strength and raw talent, said Stroud, who began working with Ryan about four years ago.

It was just a matter of working on hitting mechanics, coordination and consistency, the coach said.

“I tell the kids (the swing) has got to be as consistent as eating with a fork,” Stroud said. “And when you can repeat the action time and time again, you’re going to be a lot better hitter.”

Ryan has been practicing three days a week, mostly facing a pitching machine instead of live pitching, since a pitching machine will used at the competition in Nationals Park.

Ryan’s parents, Diane and Don, and 18-year-old sister, Lindsay, arguably his biggest fan, will be at Nationals Park cheering for Ryan.

“I’m really proud of him,” Lindsay said. “To see a lot of hard work paying off is a really great thing.”