By ROBERT L. LEE

BATON ROUGE – The phone rang for three local softball stars to play one last series on the diamond in the high school arena, before heading along their separate paths. St. Charles Catholic High School’s Katie Arcuri, Hahnville High School’s Kelly Watson and Riverside Academy High School’s Summer Delaneuville were all called to LSU’s Tiger Field and the Louisiana High School Coaches Association All-Star doubleheader Saturday.

The 11th annual event placed only two of the players, Arcuri and Delaneuville, on the East team, while Watson was a starting pitcher facing them on the West squad. Watson opened the first game of the day’s double-header, pitching the first three innings, then took the mound in the second game in the fourth and fifth innings. Arcuri concentrated on her position in the outfield.

Delaneuville started on the mound for the East team in the game, and also returned in the second for the fourth and fifth innings. She was told beforehand that the East’s team customarily comes out on top of the double-header, winning 13 of the 15 games, and enforced the tradition by continuing her regular season pace, allowing only two hits and striking out nine batters across the two games.

Watson gave up six hits, mixed in with four strike outs. Keeping the West team from gaining a momentum was its six errors, which let the East rally for two shut-out victories, 3-0 and 1-0.

All three players described the experience as an exciting opportunity to get back out on the field in the high school environment they’ve gotten used to. Watson was not on the original roster, but it only the announcement more sublime.

“I got the call in the middle of a class,” said her coach Angela Beck. “I thought it was some kind of emergency. I ran to the office and when I found out she was on the team I was ecstatic. Then I called her and she was really excited.”

For Watson and Arcuri, it was also another chance to get their names out, and at least be known as an all star. Watson finished her regular season with a 14-3 record, a 1.18 ERA and 79 strike outs, guiding the Tigers well-oiled team into the playoff regionals. The season may not have lifted her to the tops of the ranks in some college scouting lists, but she said the all star game would give them another look at her talents.

College scouts spoke to Arcuri, but she decided to let classes alone take center stage. Her senior season wrapped up with the Lady Comets’ bi-district playoff game and an overall batting average bordering .500. She plans to become a dental hygienist after graduating from UNO.