NATIONAL MINE — The spotlight’s on softball seniors in the Upper Peninsula who will get another chance to swing their bats at this year’s U.P. All-Star game at 5 p.m. today at Westwood’s field in Tilden Township.

One 10-inning game will be played, and will feature 22 players from 11 different schools.

Three schools have three players, while five schools have two players each.

Team #1 will be coached by Negaunee assistant Pat Thomson, who will get to coach both players the Miners have participating in Josie Thomson and Sam Richards.

The Marquette Redettes have three representatives in Jordan Haynes, Maranda Andrews and Alaina Saari.

There are also three players for Superior Central, as Shae Lampinen, Riley Johnson and Emma Rutter will play from the Cougars.

Delta County also has two players in Gladstone’s Kenzingtin Pepin and Rapid River’s Madi LaChance. Rounding out Team #1 are Calumet’s Laura Giachino and Emma Perala.

Team #2 will be coached by Westwood’s Cherish Ostola, and just like Thomson, Ostola will coach two of her players from the Patriots. Natalie Prophet and Jillian Koski will be on the roster as two players getting to take their home field for the final time.

“It’ll be fun to be able to coach them one last time,” Ostola said.

“This game is really just about having fun, getting together with other seniors. I’m excited. “

Hailey Hytinen and Abby Koski will represent the Ishpeming Hematites on Team #2, getting to play with their crosstown rivals.

Escanaba will also have a pair of players in Abby Hill and Lizzy Silva straight off the Eskymos’ Division 2 semifinal run.

Kingsford is the only school on Team #2 to have three players in Delaney Cram, Abby Terrian and Allie Lavarnaway. Rudyard’s Delaney McDowell rounds out the roster.

Ostola added: “It’s not every day that two teams of the U.P.’s best players can take the field together at one time, but for one more time in 2022, you can. This year’s game features not only prominent local players, but players from all over the U.P. that people in the area haven’t had the chance to watch.

“I think it’ll be fun to see some players that we haven’t had the opportunity to see, and there’s a lot of talent in the U.P.,” Ostola said.

“It’s pretty cool to get the girls together one more time.”

Travis Nelson can be contacted at tnelson@miningjournal.net.