Stars gather at Fields of Dreams

The last pitch in East Peoria Saturday at the state softball tournament was not the last pitch of the 2008 season.

Mid-Suburban League seniors will get one more chance to represent their high school.

The annual MSL senior all-star softball game will be staged Monday at 7 p.m. at Barrington's Fields of Dreams.

The MSL West and East divisions will match talents in the game where winning really isn't the only thing.

This game is about having fun.

It's nice to win and they'll be playing hard, but the all-star game provides an opportunity for Mid-Suburban League seniors to share the dugout with division opponents and enjoy those final moments in the softball spotlight.

Many of these girls may never play the game again at a competitive level.

The MSL game was organized by Barrington coach Perry Peterson, with the cooperation of the league coaches.

The first game was held in 1993.

In the 2007 game, Caitlin Polzin of Conant pitched 3 hitless innings, struck out 5 and drove in the game-winning run to lead the West to a 3-0 win over the East.

With that performance, Polzin was named the recipient of the Nancy Frisk Most Valuable Player Award.

Prior to the game Monday, Polzin will receive the award from Bob Frisk, assistant managing editor for sports of the Daily Herald.

The MVP award is named in the memory of Frisk's wife Nancy, who died of cancer in 1992.

West Division

Barrington -- Michal Jane Maropis, Jessica McGurn, Lisa Shandley, Devinne Wapotish.

Conant -- Lauren Erkman, Jamie Flowers, Christina Shelfo, Amberly Ward.

Fremd -- Brittany Borst, Devoni Jorgensen, Stacey Stutzman, Marybeth Wesoloski.

Hoffman Estates -- Rachel Marinoff, Natalie Miceli, Jenna Pellus.

Palatine -- Caitlin Carpenter, Nikki Linares, Amy Modic, Bre Quaritsch, Steph Roto.

Schaumburg -- Nicole Benedict, Rachel Borgman, Meghan Fielmann, Heather Gustafson.

East Division

Buffalo Grove -- Katie Lee, Stephanie Rudolfi.

Elk Grove -- Jamie Campus, Amy Charewicz, Kayla Mahoney.

Hersey -- Danielle Gore, Mallory Donoghue.

Prospect -- Cyndi Becker, Paige O'Neil, Amy Varner, Mary Kate Ward, Sheri Weidner.

Rolling Meadows -- Caitlin Adair, Angela Mahanna, Connie Porters, Bonnie Weglarz.

Wheeling -- Janelle Schroeder, Nicole Schroeder, Carly Speidel, AnneMarie Spiezia.

Officials take note: Registrations will be accepted now for a fall class on becoming a basketball official.

The class will begin Sept. 9 and run for seven weeks, ending Oct. 22 at the Palatine Public Library.

Ed Curtin, a veteran of over 40 years of basketball officiating at all levels and the current Mid-Suburban League assignment chair, will teach the class.

Topics covered will be learning two-person mechanics, gaining confidence, how to move up the ladder, improving your skills in officiating, and pre-season scrimmage officiating.

There will be a new DVD presentation in the class.

For registration information and details, contact Curtin at (847) 991-3144 or fax to (847) 934-5861.