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 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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