Jordan Yarcho of Lincoln and Michael Lowery of Mount Pulaski

Logan County duo plays in All Star Game at the Corn Crib
 

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[June 30, 2015]  Jordan Yarcho of Lincoln and Michael Lowery of Mount Pulaski were once again on opposing teams Saturday night as the duo participated in the 41st Annual Illinois Coaches Association Senior East-West All Star Baseball Game at the Corn Crib in Normal.

Yarcho, the MVP of the 2015 Lincoln Railers, was the starting first baseman for the East All Stars while Lowery, the MVP of the 2015 Mount Pulaski Toppers, pitched two innings for the West All Stars.

Forty-two players from across the state of Illinois participated in the doubleheader Saturday night as the West All Stars swept the evening on the field 14-2 and 8-2.

Brady Fairfield of Metamora High School received the Michael Collins Memorial MVP award. The doubleheader also served to benefit the Michael Collins Foundation. Michael Collins, who had played in the ICA All Star Game in 2010, was the Illinois State University student killed by a drunk driver in Bloomington in 2014.

Collins played baseball for two years at Heartland Community College, before transferring to ISU. He was also an assistant baseball coach for his dad, Jim Collins, at Bloomington University High School. Following his death, a "Pay It Forward" movement was started by a friend on Face Book in his honor with the #MCstrong serving as a way to keep his memory alive.

The players gathered at home plate following the games Saturday night and knelt down in prayer with Coach Collins. According to "Michael's Story" that appeared in the game program, "Michael was passionate about many things but the greatest joy he brought his family was his faith in God and his relationship with the Lord. His favorite scripture was Philippians 4:13, "For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength."

It was an emotional evening for sure, serving as a reminder how precious life is.

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A final note about Yarcho and Lowery

These two ballplayers have always been on different teams and are not looking to break that at this time as they each head different directions in the fall. Yarcho is bound for Lincoln Land Community College to pitch and play first base for the Loggers. While Lowery will head the other way to Illinois Central College in East Peoria to also pitch and play infield.

These two do, however, share a common bond though that goes beyond the game of baseball. They are cousins. Distant cousins, but nonetheless, family. As per the family genealogist, Kathleen Wilham, there was an Aunt Mary Yarcho and a Grandma Heinzel, who were sisters. Both these women were from the Whitesell family and lived just a block from each other on Broadway in Lincoln many years ago. Of course, Jordan hails from the Yarcho side and Lowery's great-grandmother is Edith Heinzel Coogan, formerly of the 1110 East Broadway St. address. Doing the math, maybe makes the boys at least 4th cousins.

Good luck to both these young men as they begin their collegiate careers in the fall.

[Teena Lowery]

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