MONROE – Maci Willey faced Bedford a lot of times during her four years with Monroe’s softball team.
The two arch-rivals played each other at least twice each season and battled many times in tournaments.
That wasn’t good news for Willey as an outfielder. She watched many balls off the bats of Mule stars Aubrey Hensley and Nyah Mullins fly over her head.
“Yeah, I’ve seen a few of those,” she said with a laugh.
Willey won’t have to worry about that in her final game on Vince Rossi Field at Monroe.
Willey will be in the same dugout as the Bedford stars for the Monroe County All-Star Softball Game on Monday, July 7.
She is looking forward to being teammates with the Bedford girls instead of trying to figure out how to get them out.
“We had a really strong rivalry,” Willey said. “We went back and forth. It will be nice to get to know them. It will be awesome.”
Willey will play next year for Aquinas College in Grand Rapids.
“I’ve been playing all four years, I’m excited to play one more game in high school,” she said.
Willey and Monroe teammates Eloisa Reyes and Avery Leach and Hensley, Mullins and Makayla Johnson of Bedford form a big part of the Red squad.
Completing the roster are Natalie Rath and Kaylee Imo of Dundee, Brooke Payment and Lindsey Gennoe of Jefferson, Summerfield’s Mia Miller and Flat Rock’s Addi Kop.
Monroe’s Mickey Moody is coaching the team.
“I’ve got my players and the Bedford girls, which will be fun,” said Moody, who coached at Dundee before moving to Monroe this year. “And I get to coach a couple of Dundee girls. That will be fun for me as well. I get a chance to watch them one more time.”
Monroe County hasn’t held a softball all-star game in several years.
“The Ida coaches wanted to pick it back up,” Moody said. “They reached out to me and I said yes. … It’s a nice thing for the kids to go out on. It’s a good to let them play against each other one more time.”
Five St. Mary Catholic Central players are included on the Blue roster – Tori Busen, Camryn Gee, Callie Cousino, Abby Leachy and Marissa West.
The other players are Jess Schrader, Reese Hennessy and Madi McCain of Ida, Addison Butt and Isabella Salas of Gibraltar Carlson and Megan Butz, Brooklyn Mills and Lilly Billau of Whiteford.
Chelsea Brandcheau and Mark Lambert of Ida will coach that team.
“The teams are equally split,” Brancheau said. “It should be good competition. All the girls have good bonds from playing travel ball together.
“I am excited to see them all play again.”
The all-star game will begin at 6 p.m. Fans will be required to park in the main lot at Monroe High School because of construction on the tennis courts next to the softball diamond.
Shuttles will be available for fans who need them.
BLUE ROSTER
Jess Schrader, Ida
Reese Hennessy, Ida
Madi McCain, Ida
Addison Butt, Carlson
Isabella Salas, Carlson
Megan Butz, Whiteford
Brooklyn Mills, Whiteford
Lilly Billau, Whiteford
Tori Busen, SMCC
Camryn Gee, SMCC
Callie Cousino, SMCC
Abby Leachy, SMCC
Marissa West, SMCC
Coaches: Chelsea Brancheau and Mark Lambert, Ida
RED ROSTER
Eloisa Reyes, Monroe
Maci Willey, Monroe
Avery Leach, Monroe
Mia Miller, Summerfield
Natalie Rath, Dundee
Kaylee Imo, Dundee
Brooke Payment, Jefferson
Lindsey Gennoe, Jefferson
Addi Kop, Flat Rock
Aubrey Hensley, Bedford
Nyah Mullins, Bedford
Makayla Johnson, Bedford
Coach: Mickey Moody, Monroe
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Monroe’s Willey excited to join forces with Bedford in all-star game
Reporting by Niles Kruger, The Monroe News / The Monroe News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
