All-star baseball on hiatus

A 34-year tradition has come to an end this spring as the Mid-Suburban League's Hal Sprehe Senior All-Star baseball game will not be played.

A number of MSL coaches said a declining interest level among players and the inability to hold the game at a facility such as Alexian Field, the home of the Schaumburg Flyers, led to its demise.

"It is a shame," said Schaumburg coach Paul Groot, who played in the inaugural Hal Sprehe game for Wheeling in 1974. "I hope somebody tries to set it up again someday."

The game was named after Sprehe, the former Forest View coach who was electrocuted in a backyard accident.

Last year's game ended in a 7-7 tie after 9 innings.