Boerne Greyhound pitcher Niko Gonzales has been named a 2008 Under Armour Pre-Season All-American.

Boerne High School junior Niko Gonzalez is one of just 200 prep baseball players across the nation selected as a 2008 Under Armour Pre-Season All-American.

Gonzalez, a left-handed pitcher and outfielder, will participate with other All-American selections in a 16-team, wood bat tournament in Tucson, Ariz., this Friday through Sunday.  The event is being held at Kino Sports Complex, the spring training home of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Under Armour, a national performance apparel company, is the title sponsor and one of the driving forces behind the event. The annual tournament is heavily attended by pro and college scouts.

All-American candidates are selected based on either a strong performance at a previous Team One or Baseball Factory event, or on the recommendation of a professional scout.  The 200 All-Americans on the 2008 squad are drawn from a field of about 5,000 high school baseball players scouted by Baseball Factor and Team One Baseball over the course of the year.

Historically, about one in 10 players participating in the All-American Tournament has been drafted into the major leagues.  Many more receive college scholarship offers. Former Under Armour Pre-Season All-Americans include New York Mets All-Star third baseman David Wright and Tampa Bay Rays' slugger B.J. Upton.