Published: June 30, 2009 04:26 pm      

County athletes excel in East/West all-star games

Last week, numerous recently graduated county athletes participated in the 2009 Indiana East/West All-Star Class Games in Hartford City.

The games are run by Post Your Talents (postyourt.org) an organization geared to help high school athletes get into college.

Unlike many of the summer’s all-star games that focus on one sport, five sports are featured during the three-day event – soccer, golf, baseball, softball, and basketball.

The games began as a basketball event five years ago and have expanded over the years, most recently adding soccer for the 2009 games.

“The response has been very good for the other sports,” sports information director Dave Risley said. “This year went well and attendance appeared to be up for the games.”

The boys and girls’ basketball games were held on Saturday.

Bethesda’s Mike West made a big impact on the Class A boys’ game, scoring 25 points for the West team. He shot 9-for-15 from the field and made 3-of-6 three-pointers.

West’s teammate Kyle Bennett also played in the game, scoring four points on 2-for-4 shooting. The West team fell to the East 86-66.

Danville’s Nate Rigdon had a busy day, playing for the Class 4A East boys’ team and for the Class 3A West boys’ team. Ridgon didn’t score in either contest but had three rebounds, three steals, and two assists in the 4A game. Rigdon’s team won both games. He also won the three-point shooting contest at halftime of the 3A game.

Avon’s Melissa Eades played on the Class 4A West girls’ team that defeated the East 70-69 in OT. Eades scored 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting and had a rebound, assists, and a steal.

Cascade was well represented in Friday’s softball doubleheader – coach Don Helmick, Taylor Hueston, and Emilee Arnold were all members of the West team. The West lost both games to the East, 6-0 and 5-1.

Hueston pitched all 15 innings for the West and struck out nine batters. She also doubled and scored the West’s only run of the day.

Arnold reached base once and was named the Class 2A Julie Johnson Mental Attitude Award winner.

On Friday, Bethesda’s Chase Ringler played with the Class A West baseball team that defeated the East 8-6. Ringler walked three times in four plate appearances and scored two runs.

Brownsburg’s Craig Peery (Class 4A) and Tri-West’s David Pfeifer (Class 2A) were both members of the all-star soccer teams that played on Thursday.

For more information about Post Your Talents or the all-star contests, vist the website at www.postyourt.org.

todd.taylor@flyergroup.com