MARION — 36 of the area’s top softball players, regardless of class, took to the field at Rent One Park for the SI Select Lloyd Nelson Memorial All-Star Game, at least for a while anyway. The game was called after five innings due to darkness as the stadium lights were not working.

Prior to the lighting issues, the game had a little bit of everything: a couple of home runs, great defense, and the players say plenty of fun.

The teams were divided into Black jerseys and White jerseys. Elverado’s Morgan Bernardini singled home Murphysboro’s Shelby Cook in the top of the first to give the Black jerseys a 1-0 lead.

Cook’s Red Devils’ teammate Malorie Gill was playing for the other side in this game. Gill launched a solo homer in the bottom of the first to tie the game at 1-1.

Herrin’s Jersey Summer’s scorched a line drive laser for a home run in the second to put the Black jerseys back on top. Mt. Vernon’s Jacie Dees and Hamilton County’s Cambria Curry had RBI singles in the bottom of the second to give the White jerseys their first lead at 3-2.

The Black jerseys regained the lead with two runs in the to of the fifth. Anna-Jonesboro’s Avery Osman hit bloop single to score Cook. Osman later scored on a wild pitch for a 4-3 lead, but the White jerseys answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth. An infield hit from Carterville’s Kennedy Rushing scored Mt. Vernon’s Justice Malone to tie the game. Trico’s Madi Rathert followed with a sacrifice fly to score Gill to put the White jerseys up 5-4.

After the fifth, all of the seniors playing in the game had a competition. The seniors had to toss a softball from the outfield toward a bucket at home plate, with the closest receiving a $1000 scholarship. Anna-Jonesboro’s Payton Seip hit the bucket to win the money.

The game was called shortly after. Event organizers are planning to try again to play the game. They have rescheduled it for Tuesday, July 5th at 7:00. Admission will be free.