The best of the best of the softball players in the Polar League headed to Wade Stadium’s softball fields to play ball on Tuesday, June 20th. Each of these twenty-five gifted student athletes was named Polar League All-Conference Softball Selections this year, which earned them the opportunity to have a little fun post-season in the All-Star Game. Selection numbers are given to the twelve schools in the Polar League, based on standings throughout the season.
This year the Northshore Softball teams were represented by six season standouts. Two Harbor’s Harper Powell and Cook County’s Katie Peck joined players from Moose Lake/Willow River, South Ridge, Cromwell, Esko, and McGregor on the Blue All-Star Team. Silver Bay sent four players down to the Duluth stadium. Danika Thompson, Hope Ernest, Katie Carpenter, and Madison Ollman all played on the Silver All-Star Team with players from Floodwood, Barnum, and Carlton/Wrenshall.
“I’ve played on it for a couple years,” said Danika Thompson, who graduated this year. “It is really cool to be on a team with a bunch of super, super talented girls and see how they all play together and cheer each other on.”
The game began at eleven in the morning, and it was close going into the bottom of the 6th, with Blue ahead 2-1.
Three more runs would come in for Team Blue. Bailey Plante, of the Esko Eskomos, earned an RBI single. The North Shore Girls pulled the team to a 5-1 final score when Katie Peck brought in Plante, and Harper Powell brought in Peck. Team Blue took the win and everyone had a great time, as evidenced in the big smiles in the group pictures before and after the game.
“It’s fun,” Danika said, about wrapping up her high school softball career at the Polar League All Stars Game. “Especially playing with Hope because she’s also a senior. It was fun to go out with her because she’s so good and competitive, also.”
Her other All-Star teammates will have the chance to vie for another go at the event next year. Madison Ollman, who also plays basketball, will be a sophomore and Katie Carpenter, who also is a hockey player will be a senior. Harper Powell will be a senior, and continue playing hockey, volleyball, and softball. Katie Peck graduated this year and has signed on to play softball at Mesabi Range College, along with playing volleyball and basketball.
I asked Danika, who also played volleyball and basketball, a very rookie-reporter-vague-open-ended question. “What do you like best about softball?” Her mind went straight to the support she and her team had in their coaching staff. “There were a lot of them, but there’s really good balance. There is a pitching coach, a catching coach, an infield, outfield… they all had their specialties. I think that’s what made us really good.”
These multi-talented players are inspirational. Their love of the game, their dedication, and respect for each other has made them a point of pride in our communities.
Congratulations to the Polar League Athletic Directors, Polar League Softball Coaches, and all the ALL-CONFERENCE Softball Players for a great game and season!
Feel free to reach out to me at sarahwritesnsj@yahoo.com with any news we should news about!
