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Metro Detroit

July 5, 2012

All-Star Games set to serve as ‘culmination’ of 2012 softball season

By Mike Moore
C & G Sports Writer

» click to enlarge «

All-Star Games set to serve as ‘culmination’ of 2012 softball season

File photo by Patricia O’Blenes

Girls from the 2011 softball All-Star Game come together in the circle. The 2012 games are set for July 18 at Secchia Stadium on the campus of Michigan State University in East Lansing.

On the diamond

The 2012 Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association All-Star Games are scheduled for July 18 in East Lansing.
Four games will take place beginning at 9:30 a.m. Plenty of talent from the C & G coverage area will make the trip to Secchia Stadium. Here’s a list of the local players.

Division 1
• Dave Brubaker, coach, North Farmington
• Katy Severson, North Farmington
• Katie Creighton, North Farmington
• Bryana Opalewski, Fraser High
• Kamryn LaCarter, Troy High
• Erica Manduzzi, Dakota High
• Kayce Nieto, Farmington Hills Mercy
• Taylor Verbic, Warren Regina

Division 2
• Gabrielle Fazio, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep
• Kaitlyn Roose, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep

Division 3
• Jaclyn Bieniewicz, Madison Heights Bishop Foley
• Colleen Szakacs, Madison Heights Bishop Foley

Division 4
• Stephanie Smith, Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest

— Mike Moore

It’s a day loaded with softball, highlighting some of the most talented players in the state with four games in one location.

But most of all, according to Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association President Tom Calnen, it’s a day of recognition.

“Our thank you to some fabulous seniors for a great season,” Calnen said.

On July 18, girls from around the state will converge on Secchia Stadium in East Lansing for four All-Star Games.

The Division 3 game kicks off the day at 9:30 a.m., followed by D-2 at 11:30 a.m., D-1 at 1:30 p.m. and D-4 at 3:30 p.m.

“It’s an awesome day, a great culmination to the season,” Calnen said. “We really look forward to it. The girls get here Tuesday afternoon. We treat them like queens for a couple days and do our best to recognize them for everything they’ve done.”

The games, limited to seniors only, feature about 30 players from each division.

Girls named All-State and All-State honorable mention are automatically invited to the games.

The rest of the rosters are filled out with players named All-Region from the playoffs.

“We used to do these games on the weekend, but by moving it to the middle of the week, we really saw an increase in the number of girls that could make it,” Calnen said. “The thing I love the most, though, is how we recognize what these girls have done. We honor the Miss Softball winners, and the girls that were runner-up. We honor the academic All-State girls. … It’s a great day of softball, the final wrap on the season until we fire things up for next year.”

Tickets for each game can be purchased at the gate for $5.

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Mike Moore at mmoore@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1038. Follow Mike on Twitter.