Several area players to play in today’s MHSSCA all-star games

Stoney Creek infielder Danielle Bryant holds off on an offering high outside the zone as part of a home doubleheader with Lake Orion on May 15. BRYAN EVERSON — MEDIANEWS GROUP

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By Bryan Everson

MediaNews Group

Utica Ford head coach Matt Joseph will have a trio of his own players under his wing on the Red Team for Tuesday’s Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association Division 1 all-star game at Davenport University Softball Stadium.

The Falcons, who won 32 games this season, including a regional championship, have the most players from any program for the D1 game. They’ll be represented by catcher Sam Norrito, outfielder Brooke Williams and pitcher Jenna Walters.

“It is special to be able to coach these three players in their last official high school softball game,” Joseph said. “I was probably more excited than the kids when I got the text asking me to coach. “They have all given so much to our program. They all compete as hard as any I have coached and more importantly they are great people. I am very blessed and lucky to have been able to coach them these last four years.”

Dakota outfielder Jenna Hig

gins joins those three as the other Macomb County rep on the Red team.

From Oakland County, Stoney Creek third baseman Danielle Bryant and Walled Lake Northern first baseman Katelyn Stallings will also team up with the Macomb quartet for Joseph and Saline coach Rebecca Suiter.

Stallings’ inclusion comes after the Knights had a trio of their own (Lauren Fox, Patelyn Gribben, Kayle Turmell) picked to play in last year’s D1 game.

South Lyon head coach Jerry Shippe will be one of the skippers in the opposite dugout for the White Team. It features Lake Orion second baseman Addy Dukus and Lakeland’s Brynn Taliercio, selected as a utility player. Like Stallings, Dukus reps a Dragons’ program that had a trio (Grace Luby, Sydney Bell, Anna Gardner) selected to last year’s festivities.

State champion Richmond will be represented by a pair of players in the D2 game. Catcher Ashley Stafford and pitcher Katie Shuboy will lace up for the Red Team.

In the Division 3 game, Clawson pitcher Sarah McLeod was selected from a Trojans team that won 23 games and reached a regional final.

Games begin at the Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex on Tuesday with the D1 matchup, set for 10 a.m. The D2 game is scheduled for noon, followed by the Division 3 contest at 2:30 p.m. and the D4 game at 4:30 p.m.