By By DAN WEISS / Niles Daily Star
MISHAWAKA, Ind. -- The Michigan All-Star teams are now 2-3 after splitting a pair of contests Tuesday evening at Sports Fest 2004, held on the campus of Bethel College.
After the Michigan All-Star volleyball team suffered a loss to Metro in Monday's opening-night activities, the Michigan baseball and girls' basketball teams ousted their Metro counterparts Tuesday night. The Michigan softball and girls' soccer teams, however, were eliminated by Metro teams.
The action continues tonight with boys' basketball and boys' soccer. In both sports, the teams from Michigan will face the Metro teams at 7 p.m.
The Michigan girls' basketball team took control of its game early on, using sharp shooting to race out to a double-digit lead, which it held almost the entire first half on its way to a 56-46 victory.
Ashlee Layher of Buchanan and Balie Maak of Marcellus led the Michigan All-Stars with 13 points apiece. Niles' Ashley Spriggs added six points and Buchanan's Ali Bender scored five.
The Michigan All-Stars will face the Indiana West All-Stars, a 92-72 winner over Indiana East, in the championship game Friday at 7 p.m.
The Michigan baseball team got off to a quick start, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first inning and holding on for a 4-2 victory.
Niles' John Kessick started on the mound and worked six innings of the nine-inning affair. He struck out six batters and gave up just three hits to earn the victory. He was relieved by Michigan Lutheran's Rick Breinling in the seventh and River Valley's Steve Terry came on in the ninth to close the game.
Kessick and Nate Peak and Jon Muff of Edwardsburg each hit a double to pace the Michigan All-Stars at the plate.
Michigan will face the winner of tonight's game between Indiana East and Indiana West in the championship game Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
The Michigan softball squad suffered a 3-2 setback by the Metro All-Stars, thanks in part to a botched pickoff attempt.
An overthrow to third base allowed Metro to score the winning run in the top of the sixth inning.
Andrea Murdock of Berrien Springs tripled for the Michigan All-Stars while Brianne Reist of Dowagiac added a double.
Lake Michigan Catholic's Johnelle Hartman started in the pitching circle and was relieved by Brandywine's Nicki McGowen in the fourth inning.
The Michigan All-Star soccer squad was beaten 5-0 by the Metro All-Stars. The score was 2-0 at halftime and the Metro squad added three scores in the second half.
Metro outshot Michigan 9-4.