By Skip Weaver

Contributing Writer

MADISON TWP. – The Southwestern Buckeye League will hold its first-ever all-star softball game at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 11 at the Rowe Sports Complex in Madison Township.

The game is for any senior from the 14 teams in the league, and one player each from the Southwestern and Buckeye Division squads with the highest grade-point average will receive a $100 scholarship.

“I’m really excited about this,” said Monroe softball coach Tim Kellis, who organized the event. “We really didn’t expect to have the scholarships this year because we didn’t have our first meeting until the postseason started, but it is really coming together now and we’re ready to get rolling.”

The scholarships are being sponsored by Goodall and Associates, which is a division of Ameriprise Financial of West Chester. Kellis said he hopes to bring the scholarships up to $1,000 in the future.

The event is also being sponsored by ALM Team Sports, a sporting goods, uniform and spirit wear provider in Madison Township, and Steve’s Trophies of Middletown.

Kellis, who is a partner at ALM, said he recalled when his son J.C. had the opportunity to play in a district all-star baseball game several years ago and he thought this would be a good way to recognize players. He also is inviting numerous college coaches to attend the game.

“I know what it meant to J.C.,” Kellis said. “And I love softball so much. I just wanted to see something for these kids who might slip through the cracks to get an opportunity.”

Kellis said the whole idea began at the SWBL league meeting. There was no mention of any postseason stuff for softball, so he had a conversation with Carlisle Athletic Director Mark Townsley, who is the league’s softball director.

“I knew the league had an all-star game for basketball, and baseball has a district all-star game,” Kellis said. “So I asked Mark and he said it had been talked about before but no one ever organized it.”

Kellis said the interest from other coaches in the league was “overwhelming” when he contacted them, so he then asked for player nominations and also checked with the Ohio High School Athletic Association for any rules that govern such events.

With the tragic events that recently occurred in Oklahoma, Kellis and the league coaches identified the victims of the recent tornado outbreaks as a charity for this year’s event. He said there will be a 50/50 raffle, as well as a donation bucket for anyone who wishes to donate.

Players listed for the Buckeye team are Carlisle’s Morgan Thomas, Maggie Sorrell and Ashley Sommers, Dixie’s Kelly Speak, Madison’s Katie Sturgis, Alli Lenos, Rachel Ward and Rylie Markle, Milton-Union’s April Stine and Chelsea Smith, Preble Shawnee’s Courtney Lakes, Cheyanne Edwards and Sidney Brown and Waynesville’s Leslie Turner and Julie Tap.

On the Southwestern squad are Bellbrook’s Maria Strausbaugh, Eaton’s Taylor Guay, Franklin’s Chelsea Miller, Jill Bunnell, Taylor Parsons and Cassidy Brewer, Monroe’s Kayla Key and Leah Harrison, Oakwood’s Elle Wilson, Annie Lutz and Abbey Seyfing, and Valley View’s Marissa Wilson and Abby Cramer.

The Buckeye team coaches are Tom Shelton (Carlisle), Joe Amstutz (Madison) and Tim Williams (Waynesville). The Southwestern coaches are Jim Miller (Franklin) and Dona Layman (Valley View).

Click on Softball All-star game to benefit Oklahoma tornado victims to see more on the story.