Published: July 16, 2008 12:19 am         

All-Star festivities tonight

Pharos-Tribune All-Stars set to take on Kokomo Tribune All-Stars at 7 p.m. tonight

Northwestern senior Eric Metz will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the fourth annual Pharos-Tribune/Kokomo Tribune All-Star Baseball Game at 7 p.m. tonight at Lewis Cass High School in Walton.

Metz was a two-sport athlete with the Tigers and got off to a fast start in the 2007-08 football season before he was diagnosed with lymphatic cancer. He underwent treatment at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis and his cancer has been in remission for eight months.

A member of the Northwestern squad that made it to the 2005 Class 2A state finals, Metz was able to rejoin the baseball team in late April of this year and played a limited number of innings on the mound for Northwestern.

For the ceremonial pitch in the All-Star Game, Metz will wear orange in honor of a friend who recently died from leukemia.

In addition to Metz’s appearance, 30 other top players will showcase their skills for local fans.

This nine-inning exhibition will feature athletes from 11 area high schools: Carroll, Caston, Eastern, Kokomo, Lewis Cass, Logansport, Northwestern, Pioneer, Taylor, Western and Winamac.

Players are chosen for the game based on the post-season honor teams selected by both the Kokomo Tribune and the Pharos-Tribune.

For many of these athletes, this will be their final game in a high school uniform before continuing their playing careers at the collegiate level.

In the history of the showcase, the Howard County All-Stars hold a 2-0-1 record while the Loganland All-Stars remain winless at 0-2-1.

Howard County won the area crown in 2005, with a 14-1 shelling, and in 2007, with a narrow 8-6 victory. The two squads tied 6-6 in 2006 in a game that was shortened because of rain. This is also the third time Lewis Cass High School will host game.

For the second straight year, fans will also have the opportunity to vote online for an MVP. Polls will be posted after the game at www.pharostribune.com and www.kokomotribune.com and voting will be open until 7 p.m. Thursday. Winners will be announced by each publication on Friday.

Prior to the game, area coaches will team up to offer the third annual kids clinic, which is scheduled from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

The Pharos-Tribune All-Stars coach this year, Loganland Coach of the Year Greg Marschand of Lewis Cass, is looking forward to coaching the squad tonight.

“There’s a lot of talent on the team,” he said. “I’m looking forward to coaching them and working with them. It should be a lot of fun.

“I know a lot of these guys and have been watching them all summer. A guy like [Loganland Player of the Year] Grant McCloskey is a coaches’ dream with the passion and love he has for the game. You can just tell that from watching from the stands in the way he directs things and encourages his teammates and leads his team.”