Lyle/Pacelli graduate Amy Bickler and Austin High senior Chelsea McColley were among 72 senior softball players in the state selected to play in the 14th Annual Minnesota High School All-Star Girls’ Softball Series Sunday, June 9, at Caswell Park in North Mankato.

Seventy-two players state-wide are chosen by coaches throughout Minnesota and drafted into six squads set to do battle at the conclusion of the 2002 State Softball Tournament. Each team will play three games Sunday, including the ‘Breeze’ team starring area standouts Bickler and McColley.

Bickler led L/P to a runner-up sub-section finish this season from the pitching circle, while second baseman McColley and the Packers advanced to the state tournament as Section 1AAA champions.

Lyle/Pacelli head coach Tom Clements earned the right to coach the Breeze by guiding his softball squad into the championship finals of the Class A state tournament last year, ending the season with the one goal he had not yet achieved.

"I'm looking forward to it," Clements said of coaching in the All-Star Series. "It's one of my goals that I've always wanted to do."

Through six seasons at Austin Pacelli -- including the shared program with Lyle the last three years -- Clements compiled a 113-33 record. L/P was conference champions four straight seasons and won the sub-section title three times. This year's 18-5 program was Southeast Conference champ and sub-section runner-up.

"When this whole thing started six years ago, one of my goals was to coach in the All-Star game, another was just to play in a state tournament," Clements said. "I wanted to get 100 wins, but the main (goal) was just to be successful. The All-Star thing wasn't something that I thought was attainable, it's just icing on the cake."

Clements picked up his 100th career victory earlier this season, helped along by the prolific pitching of Bickler -- an All-Stater her junior year.

"She started five years on the varsity," Clements said. "Her (pitching career) records are going to last."

Bickler and the rest of the L/P team will hold their season-ending softball potluck Monday night.

McColley and the Packers began first-round play at state this morning at 9 a.m. McColley's defense -- as much as any other factor -- has helped aid Austin's run to the final field of eight. She made 97 percent of the plays hit her way, including 22 error-free assists and putouts during four games in Section 1AAA play.

Sunday's games will be played at noon, 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. at Caswell Park in North Mankato. The Amateur Softball Association and the USA Softball – Minnesota Sports Federation will also award educational scholarships to three All-Stars on Sunday.