Sladek finishes high school softball career

 Exeter-Milligan standout Kim Sladek was one of only 30 girls selected to participate in Wednesday night’s Nebraska Coaches Association all-star doubleheader.
The doubleheader was played in Lincoln at the Huskers home ballpark, Bowlin Stadium. Sladek started at first base in the first game of the evening for the visiting Blue All-stars.
The Red All-stars jumped out to an early lead in the second inning when they scored the game’s first run. Both teams were silent at the plate over the next three innings as the game went 1-0 into the sixth.
In the sixth inning the Blue All-stars answered with a run of their own to knot things up at one run apiece. In the bottom of the seventh it looked like the game would be heading to extra innings when the first two Red All-stars were retired. But a two-out triple followed by a single from the Red All-stars gave them a 2-1 victory over the Blue All-stars.
Sladek performed well for the Blue All-stars both offensively and defensively in the contest. In the field she made easy work of everything the Red All-stars hit in her direction at first base.
Offensively she didn’t record an official at bat in the game, but was productive in two trips to the plate. In her first plate appearance, the first pitch came up and in on the right-hander, hitting her and giving her a free base. During her next trip to the plate she successfully dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move a teammate over to third base.
Despite her team dropping the first game, Sladek was enjoying every minute of the opportunity to play with the best softball players Nebraska has to offer.
“It’s really fun to play with these girls,” Sladek said. “Some of the girls I’ve played with before but some of the girls are from bigger schools and it’s fun just to be with them and be a part of everything”
The 2008 graduate of Exeter-Milligan was happy that the coaches thought enough of her to select her to play Wednesday night.
“Being able to play in the game is a great achievement,” Sladek said. “It’s good to know a lot of coaches thought I was deserving to be here.”
Sladek will be attending York College this fall where she will be playing softball for the Panthers. She said the high level of competition she saw Wednesday night will help her get ready to play for York.
“The competition is really good here so it’ll help me get ready to play,” Sladek said. “I’m looking forward to it.”

Score by inning
Blue All-stars         0 0 0 0 0 1 0 - 1
Red All-stars         0 1 0 0 0 0 1 - 2