Softball: MSL's senior stars swing into action Monday
The final pitch of the IHSA state softball tournament in East Peoria is not the final pitch of the 2015 season.
There will be one more game for graduating seniors. The 22nd annual Mid-Suburban League Senior All-Star Game will be on center stage on Monday, June 15 at 7 p.m. at Barrington's Fields of Dreams.
Mid-Suburban seniors have one more opportunity to showcase their skills as high school competitors and in their school uniforms. MSL West and East Divisions will match talents in a game where winning really isn't the only thing.
The all-star game provides the chance for many of the MSL senior softball players to share the dugout with division opponents and enjoy those final moments in the high school sports spotlight. Many of these girls may never play the game again at a competitive level.
There will be no rain date for this event.
The MSL all-star game was organized by Barrington coach Perry Peterson with the cooperation of the league coaches. The coaches also decided to have a most valuable player award each year.
The MVP award was named in the memory of Nancy Frisk, who died of cancer in 1992. Nancy was the wife of Bob Frisk, an enthusiastic supporter of high school sports at the Daily Herald who retired in December of 2008 after 50 years with the newspaper.
Prior to the all-star game Monday, a ceremony will be held at the pitcher's mound, and Frisk will present the 2014 MVP award to Courtney English of Palatine High School. English hit a two-out, 2-1 pitch for a 3-run homer in the top of the seventh inning of the West's dramatic 8-7 victory over the East.
Rosters have been announced by the MSL coaches:
MSL West
Barrington: Keenan Dolezal, Julie Magro, Kat Panos
Conant: Elisa Ambrose, DeeDee Durr, Hailey Rothstein, Stephanie Taucher, Alissa Wachal, Kim Zaucha
Fremd: Lea Barrett, Hailey Goodwin, Julie Josten, Katie Niersbach
Hoffman Estates: Charlotte Allan
Palatine: Erin Davis, Maria Howell, Cassie Kerlin, Ellie Kozlowski, Nora Walsh
Schaumburg: Shannon Felde, Roxanne Kakareka, Elaine Walker
MSL East
Buffalo Grove: Dea Barton, Julia Camardo, Caitlin Catino, Nikki Longdon
Elk Grove: Aleece Duffy, Brianna Leach, Jackie Peters, Melissa Picchi, Gabby Rathmell, Marjorie Sloan, Shannon Taucher
Hersey: Anna Johnson, Izzy McGuinnes, Jessica Schmiederer, Danielle Sychowski, Cassie Zouras
Prospect: Emma Gilhooly, Jenny Krengiel, Casey Lenski, Kelly Marshall, Erica Nelson, Emily Saenz, Ally Schuldt
Wheeling: Lauren Hart, Sydney Kaplan, Nikki Mikosz, Megan Olsen, Karlie Orlando