High schoolers play annual all-star softball game in Elgin

Some of the suburbs' best high school softball players got the chance to play in a different kind of all-star game Monday evening at Judson University in Elgin.

Before the 11th annual Fehlman Memorial Senior All-Star Softball Game, John Radtke, event organizer and Daily Herald Fox Valley Prep sports editor, speaking to the crowd from the pitchers circle, said although the name of the event has changed through the years, the purpose remains the same.

“It's threefold,” he said. “Play hard, play to win, and have fun.”

The event originally started as a way to give the players one last chance to play in a more casual game than their school experience may have dictated and was called the Fox Valley Senior All-Star Game. In 2008, the name of the game was changed to the Dave Fehlman Memorial Senior All-Star Game, as a way to honor the longtime supporter of area high school and youth softball, who died a year earlier. In 2012, his 13-year old son Robbie was killed in an accident involving an impaired driver and the name of the game was then shortened.

And after the colors were marched in by the color guard from Haderer-Eineke American Legion Post 680 of Hampshire, the fun started with one team wearing bright orange uniforms, and the other wearing purple.

The event was sponsored by the Chicago Bandits professional women's softball team, who played on the Judson diamond their first full season, the Northern Illinois Lightning softball team, Kohl's and the Daily Herald.