Husker softball's diamond was filled with Washington County representation Monday during the first inning of the Nebraska Coaches Association All-Star Game.
Blair High School graduate Kalli Ulven worked from the pitching circle for the Blue team, while her Bears teammate, Leah Chance, played second base at Bowlin Stadium in Lincoln.
Arlington High School coach Janelle Lorsch stood next to the third-base line, too, directing her Red squad's players around the basepath. Not far from her was field umpire Jessica Schenck, a 2017 BHS grad calling runners either “out” or “safe.”
In the end, though, Lorsch's All-Star lineup of future college standouts battered the Blair Bears' Blue lineup, 19-3, in nine innings.
“No comment,” Ulven said through a laugh. “It was a fun game.”
The multiple time Class B all-stater was willing to look past the final score.
“It was fun to be apart of it, so it's fine,” she said, smiling still.
The Red team led 1-0 after one inning before Chance led off the second with a double to the right field wall. The soon-to-be Wayne State College Wildcat later scored on an RBI swing by Lexi Paskach, a former Ralston Ram set to study at Morningside University (Iowa), tying the score.
Ulven, who pitched through the end of the third frame, hit her own two-out, RBI double to the centerfield wall, too. It pulled the Blue squad within 3-2, which was as close as it would get.
Omaha Westside graduate Kaidance Dumas homered during the eighth inning, but the Red was already well ahead. It dominated the middle innings with Lorsch waving home all-stars from across the state for a combined 12 runs during the fourth, fifth and seventh frames.
Even in defeat, though, Chance said she enjoyed the experience.
“It was fun to represent Blair one more time,” she explained.
“It was just really nice getting to know everyone and just getting to play with new people,” Ulven added. “It was an honor to be able to play.”
The honor, however, wasn't just the players'.
“These are an honor. Truly,” Lorsch said of the all-star matchup. “These are the best softball players in the state and it's so fun to just watch them, to be apart of that.”
She coached the victorious team alongside Millard North's Travis Unzicker, but gave the Red players all of the credit.
“They don't need us in these moments,” she said. “They know the game. They love the game and you just smile watching them. It's fun.”
Chance and Ulven's playing days are far from done with the completion of the all-star contest. While her former BHS teammate, Nessa McMillen, will play at Bowlin Stadium next spring, Ulven moves to Kearney on Aug. 21, joining the UNK Lopers for a softball meeting the following weekend. The pitcher met a future teammate, Central City's Jerzie Schnindler, during All-Star festivities and is looking forward to her freshman campaign.
Chance, meanwhile, moves to Wayne State on Aug. 16 with the start of school and softball practice not far behind.
“I'm just really excited for the next chapter and getting to compete at the next level,” the infielder said.
While she's looking forward to playing alongside new college teammates, she expressed a bit of nervousness about the school work to come.
If she handles it like her work on the diamond, though, Chance will reach all-star status as she and Ulven did Monday night on the Huskers' home field.
McMillen plays in national all-star game
Graduated Blair Bear and soon-to-be Nebraska Cornhusker Nessa McMillen recently participated in an all-star game, too.
The Class B all-stater represented her Kansas City Aces club team Sunday during the Alliance All Star Game in Kokomo, Indiana. She wore No. 18 and started in left field for the Alliance American team, which tied the National team 4-4 through seven innings.
The all-star game was broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network.
