The high school baseball season to date has been all about the quest for team glory.

But tonight’s Larry Mahaney Baseball Classic is when the stars come out for one final individual showcase.

Forty-seven of the state’s top seniors – representing 36 different schools – will gather tonight at the Winkin Baseball Complex for the 17th annual game, formerly known as the Maine Senior High School Baseball Classic.

“It’s a big honor to get selected as one of the best players in Maine,” said pitcher Greg Higgins, who along with first baseman Prentiss Swett will represent Eastern Maine Class A champion Brewer in the game. “You’ve got to represent yourself, your family, your coach, your team, everything.

“It’s the best of the best, and you get out there and realize what Maine really has to offer for baseball. I’ll probably pitch an inning of so, so I’ll get to see what the rest of Maine can do.”

Game time is 6 p.m., just after the announcement of the recipient of the Dr. John Winkin Award that presented annually to the top senior high school player in the state.

That award winner will come from among four finalists: pitcher-infielder Ian Edwards of Bangor, shortstop Kyle Stilphen of Class B state champion Gardiner, pitcher-first baseman Demitrios Gatzogiannis of Wells and pitcher-shortstop Jon Smith of Dirigo of Dixfield.

“It’s a privilege,” said Edwards, the two-time Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class A North player of the year. “Any time you can be set aside as one of the better players along with someone like Kyle Stilphen, who I’ve seen play a couple of times and know that he’s a heck of a baseball player, is special.

“To win it would be something special, but just to be nominated is great.”

Edwards is likely to see limited duty in the all-star game, as he is recuperating from a hamstring injury initially suffered during a game against Mt. Blue midway through the high school season.

But regardless of his on-field contribution, the Bowdoin College-bound Edwards just hopes to make the most of the all-star experience.

“I could either DH or pinch-hit and have a courtesy runner,” said Edwards, who along with third baseman Shane Walton and outfielder Kyle Vanidestine will represent Bangor in the game, “so hopefully I can look forward to having a couple of at-bats and have some fun out there.”

The Larry Mahaney Baseball Classic is the new name of the Maine Senior High School Baseball Classic, as game officials have decided to rename the annual clash of the state’s top senior players from Eastern and Western Maine in honor of its founder, a noted Maine philanthropist and former board chairman and chief executive officer of Webber Energy Fuels. He died in 2006.

Mahaney formed a group of advisers in 1992 to promote his idea of honoring high school baseball players in the state with a showcase similar to the Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl Classic for football and McDonald’s East-West Senior All-Star Basketball Games.

Last year organizers began a plan to alternate the game each year between locations in sourthern and northern Maine. The game was played at Mahaney Diamond on the campus of Saint Joseph’s College last summer, with 2007 Mr. Baseball Jarrett Lukas of Old Town leading the East to an 8-6 victory.

eclark@bangordailynews.net

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