A pair of Newberry players were a part of history earlier this week, participating in the 1st Annual U.P. All Star Baseball Game. Class of 2025 Seniors Matthew Rahilly and Ethan Pavey took the field and represented the Indians in the newly created event that was hosted by the ColdWeather Baseball Coaches Alliance at the Mike Maule Field in Norway Monday afternoon.

The longtime teammates went head-to-head, Pavey and his Team Michigan squad earning a come-from-behind 7-6 win over Rahilly and Team Superior.

Both players braved brutal heat and held their own among the top senior baseball players from across the Upper Peninsula. Rahilly and Pavey both played big roles for their teams in the contest.

Rahilly was given the starting pitching nod on the mound and put in the leadoff spot offensively by the Team Superior coaches, and he immediately put on a show. He led off the game with a hitting double deep to the left center field gap, giving him the first official hit in UP All Star history. He also scored the game’s first run.

On the mound, Rahilly struck out all three batters he faced in the opening inning. Shutting down Team Michigan’s star-studded lineup on just 17 total pitches. After pitching his one inning, he moved to the outfield where he made a spectacular rolling catch in centerfield. Rahilly added another hit later in the contest.

While it was the final awe-inspiring performance from the three-time Newberry MVP, it was Pavey who got the last laugh, and bragging rights among the Newberry representatives, which also included Coach Dan Hardenbrook on the Team Michigan staff.

Pavey and his teammates came out on top, with Pavey showing his defensive prowess at first base, much like he did as the Indians top infielder this spring. Pavey also got a surprise chance to pitch in the contest where he threw one inning, which included a strikeout of Gladstone’s Austin Peppin in the second inning.

Rahilly and Team Superior looked like they were going to run away with the game early, scoring a run in the first inning, three in the second, and added another one in the fourth. That 5-0 lead held until Team Michigan started battling back. They rallied behind a four-run fifth inning, and took over the lead with a pair of runs in the 6th. After Superior tied things up in the top of the seventh and final inning, Superior put the game away with a walk off sacrifice fly.

Kingsford’s Adres Finley was voted the Game MVP from Team Michigan and Rudyard catcher Tanner Baker earned the MVP honors from Team Superior. Baker had the highlight of the day, hitting the event’s first-ever home run. He added a double and finished with two RBIs. Baker also threw out two baserunners trying to steal in the contest.