OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Incoming Auburn softball freshmen Jessie Blaine and Bri Ellis led the Alliance National Team to a 10-9 win over the Alliance American Team in the inaugural Alliance All-Star game Tuesday night at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Okla. Ellis earned Player of the Game honors after driving in five runs in the win.
The inaugural contest featured the top 44 high school seniors in the country. Alliance All-Star athletes were announced after a national selection process. These athletes were first named to a National Watch List and then to their respective Member League All-Star Team before being divided into the National and American squads.
Ellis sparked the Alliance National Team offense early, doubling home a run in the bottom of the first. After giving up the lead and facing a three-run deficit, the National Team plated five runs in the second to regain the lead, highlighted with a three-run homer by Ellis. The home run shot was selected as the Offensive Play of the Game.
The infielder and native of Houston, Texas, scored a run in the fourth after reaching base via a hit by pitch. Ellis returned to the plate in the fifth with the bases loaded and drove in her fifth run of the night with a sacrifice fly to left field.
Ellis finished 2-for-2 with a double, home run, two runs scored and five RBI and was selected Player of the Game.
Blaine, a catcher and infielder that has lived in four different states in the last four years with her military family, also represented the Alliance National Team in Tuesday's contest. Blaine saw action behind the dish Tuesday.