Middendorf, Hood represent Steeleville at All-Star Game

The Southern Illinois Select All-Star Game celebrated its second year on June 20 at Rent One Park in Marion and Steeleville's Lexi Middendorf and Sydney Hood participated as part of the Black Team.

The Blue Team beat the Black Team, 16-6, with Trico's Juhle Prange going 2-for-3 with a triple and two RBIs for the Blue Team.

"It was really need playing with all of the different girls and the girls we don't play against," said Middendorf, who batted twice and played five of the game's nine innings. "I participated in the game last year and I think this game was more fun.

"It was nice having Syd on the same team."

Middendorf - who along with Hood was named to the Cahokia Conference Kaskaskia Division All-Conference team and All-South squad last season as juniors - grounded out and struck out in her two at-bats, and played three innings at shortstop and then one each at third and second.

"Most of the girls we've played in travel ball over the summer, but it was kinda cool to play with them and get to know them," said Middendorf, who is playing summer ball with the St. Louis Fusion along with Hood. "Whenever (Hood) was pitching, I was playing at shortstop, so it made me feel like we were playing school ball again."

The Blue Team took a 2-0 lead in the first on Prange's triple and extended its advantage to 11-1 after scoring six runs in the fifth inning.

Trailing 13-1, Black Team scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning and added single runs in the eighth and ninth. Blue Team scored three runs in the top of the ninth for the final score.

In total Blue Team out-hit Black Team 18-9 in the contest and the teams combined for seven errors.

"I think it's great to play with all the competitors in Southern Illinois," Hood said. "You're playing against the top players, so it's a challenge to face 18 of the best players as a pitcher.

"I didn't take it too serious and had a good time and met some good people."

Hood entered the game in the fifth inning and got to pitch three innings. She told the Herald Tribune she pitched "alright," and it was more about having fun and enjoying the atmosphere of the game.

"I wasn't expecting to pitch three innings," she said. "We play some of these teams where these girls are pulled from and others are from larger schools we don't play.

"You hear about how good they are in the paper or on social media, so it's fun to play with them."