This past season for Oxford varsity softball was something truly special as they were able to capture the league title in their final Flint Metro League season and advance to regionals before losing.
Graduating senior Kelly Cartner’s final season got a whole lot better as she was selected to participate in the Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association Division One all-star game on Wednesday, July 21 in Rannehy Park in Lansing, MI.
‘I feel really excited because from division one, only four senior catchers get to play. So being one of those is a privilege,? Cartner said.
She will play on the white team, which is coached by Tom Calnen of Troy High School and Jack Falvo of Mercy High School.
The all-star game is comprised of 34 seniors selected from division one and divided into two teams. Cartner is going to be one of two catchers on her team, so she will be able to play a minimum of four innings.
Varsity Softball Head Coach Kristi McDevitt could not have been more proud when she found out that Cartner made the all-star team.
‘There is no more a deserving player on the team,? McDevitt said. ‘She is a teammate that will stay after practice to work with you or come early to hit fly balls to teammates or shag balls. She is the first one to practice and the last one to leave, but not before everything is put away.?
Cartner admitted that she didn’t find out about it until one of the coaches actually called her and asked if she wanted to play.
According to McDevitt, the all-star selection process is tough. She had to fill out a special section on Cartner’s all-state nomination form that stated that she was willing to participate in the event, if selected. Two coaches would then go through each application form and choose teams.
Cartner had a big advantage because Coach Calnen saw her play in regionals when Oxford lost to Troy.
‘If we hadn’t played that game, Kelly’s chances for getting selected were probably pretty slim. He was able to see her in action, not just look at a form and see her great statistics. He recognized what a true ball player she is,? McDevitt said.
‘He mentioned after the defeat how much he enjoyed watching Kelly play, so I am not that surprised that he chose her for his team,? she said.
She added that making the all-star team said a lot about Cartner’s abilities on the softball diamond.
‘Her performance this season was steadfast and top notch,? McDevitt said. ‘Almost every game the ump or opposing coach would have something really nice to say about Kelly’s demeanor, hitting and catching.?
Cartner is going to attend Central Michigan in the fall to get to major in Sports Studies so she can become an athletic director in the future. She added that she isn’t quite sure if she will try to walk on for CMU’s softball team.