The first СŷƵ Diamond Classic was a success.
Now, the hope is that Wednesday night’s event at Patriots Park leads to more success next week in Philadelphia.
The Diamond Classic was the brainchild of СŷƵ Softball Carpenter Cup coach Brian Fehnel. The idea was to get his team ready to compete in the Softball Carpenter Cup in Philadelphia by playing two groups of area senior softball stars.
It was the first time there had been a local softball all-star event since the end of the Carole Weil Memorial Scholarship All-Star Classic several years ago.
A sizable crowd showed up, and they were thrilled to see the area’s brightest stars, both the graduating players and returning standouts, get a showcase event.
The Carpenter Cup team, defending tournament champs, didn’t disappoint. The Cup squad beat the West all-stars 10-1 and then edged the East team 5-4.
“It was the Carpenter Cup from last year who gave me the idea,” Fehnel said. “I asked them what they thought about coming back and scrimmaging the new team, and they said it would be awesome. So, it worked out, and I am glad it worked out. We’re going to have a meeting in the fall with all the softball coaches and get their ideas and see if we can keep building this event and make it better.”
Fehnel, who is also the head coach at Salisbury, said his team was tested by the area’s top seniors, especially by Palisades pitching star Karlye Teman and Pen Argyl’s Jillian Bradley in the second game. Both are among the area’s top hurlers.
“Both were throwing hard, and it was great to see a lefty like Bradley, who threw really well,” Fehnel said.
Asked how it felt to be a defending champ, Fehnel said: “Every year we felt like we were going to have a shot to win it. We were in the mix every year. That’s the goal every year.”
Having coached a year in the Colonial League after being an assistant coach at Emmaus, Fehnel said he came to appreciate the talent in the league, comprised of smaller schools.
“I got to see a pitcher like Jillian Bradley, who had a really good year and wasn’t talked about enough,” Fehnel said.
The СŷƵ team opens play at 8 a.m. Monday at Philadelphia’s FDR Park against the Philadelphia Catholic League. The local girls will also play Jersey Shore at 10 a.m. and Olympic Colonial at 2.
After a day off on Tuesday, the hope is СŷƵ will get to return on Wednesday, where the top eight teams from the round-robin segment compete in a single-elimination tournament that will culminate with the title game at 2 p.m.
“The Phillies run the tournament so well,” Fehnel said. “Everything is professional, from the umpires to the talent. When you go down there, you know you’re playing a bunch of kids who will go on to play in college. If you don’t get excited to go down there and play, something’s wrong.”
Fehnel said there are a lot of factors that go into the Carpenter Cup event, and it’s not just quality coaching and playing.
The girls must get their rest and stay hydrated because it’s likely going to be hot.
“We had one practice, a walk-through with defenses and the mental side of the game, and these kids were like sponges,” Fehnel said. “In just a few minutes, they picked up everything. They’re on it.”
Because of Nazareth playing in the state final, three Blue Eagles who were selected to play for the Carpenter Cup team couldn’t make it. But they were there to support the others.
In the 10-1 win over the West, СŷƵ had 14 hits. Isabella Germani from Southern Lehigh had three hits and drove in two runs. Mari Eiswerth from Emmaus also had three hits while Northwestern Lehigh’s Emma Freeman and Morgan Laub from Whitehall had two hits, and Laub knocked in a pair of runs. Laub, Eiswerth, and Freeman also combined on a two-hitter in the pitching circle in a game that ended after five innings.
In the 5-4 victory over the East, the Carpenter Cup team was held to eight hits. Freeman added two hits, and Catie Russo from Palisades and Abby Derr of Emmaus both knocked in two. Laub and Freeman both worked three innings and combined on a six-hitter with six strikeouts.
Teman and Bradley combined for 10 strikeouts.
Carpenter Cup baseball bows
For the fourth straight year, the СŷƵ entry in the baseball Carpenter Cup was a one-and-done in the 16-team, single-elimination tournament after the local kids fell to Olympic Colonial 9-2.
The СŷƵ team was held to four hits, including two by Nazareth’s Chase Kilareski. Bethlehem Catholic’s Caden Deegan had the lone RBI for the local team.
Three СŷƵ errors led to a pair of unearned runs and the local team was outhit 6-4.
Justin Sheftel Memorial Tournament
The 21st annual Justin Sheftel Memorial Softball Tournament will take place on Saturday at Cedar Creek Parkway West in Allentown.
Each year, this event brings together friends, families, and athletes to honor the life of Justin Sheftel, a local student-athlete who died in 2005 in Ocean City, Maryland, in a horrific accident shortly after graduating from Parkland High School. It was confirmed that the driver involved was speeding and driving up the influence at the time of the accident.
The Justin Sheftel Memorial Fund was established in memory of Justin Sheftel, a beloved student-athlete who valued sportsmanship, friendship, and giving back.
The slo-pitch softball tournament, which features 16 teams, raises critical funds for scholarships and youth-focused nonprofit programs across the СŷƵ.
In addition to the tournament, the day’s highlights include a mocktail competition featuring Red Robin mixologists, food trucks, games, and entertainment, a silent auction featuring gift cards, sports memorabilia, and more, and special ceremonies honoring Sheftel’s Justin’s memory and tournament milestones.
“We are grateful and excited to celebrate 21 years of community, competition, and compassion,” said Linda Sheftel, Justin’s mother and the event’s chairman. “This tournament is about honoring Justin’s legacy while making a real difference for young people in our region.”
St. Luke’s Sports Medicine will be return as the presenting sponsor along with Phillies Hall of Fame pitcher and St. Luke’s Community Ambassador Steve Carlton. They will hold an all-star baseball clinic for 125 young athletes. This year’s softball clinic features Devyn Demchak, a Northampton graduate and Drexel University softball player.
The event is open to the public, and admission is free. All proceeds benefit the Justin Sheftel Memorial Fund.
