North Platte, Ne – Braiden Ruffin is your typical North Platte teenager, down to earth and hard working both on the field and in the classroom. That ethic just landed him a once in a lifetime opportunity as captain of the American Legion All-academic team.

In order for a player to be eligible, he or she must be nominated by his or her post-affiliated team manager or head coach to the department baseball committee. Each department’s baseball committee has reviewed submitted applications and selected an overall state winner to receive a $500 scholarship.

The state winners have been reviewed by the World Series Scholarship Committee comprised of Legionnaires and academic representatives.

Each player on the team receives a $2,500 scholarship. An overall top academic player is named the team captain and awarded a $5,000 scholarship.

The scholarships are provided by Diamond Sports, a baseball merchandise company who also provides all the baseball for the legion season.

Ruffin will be taking his baseball and academic talents to Cochise College in Arizona.