STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Legendary running backs Ki-Jana Carter and Blair Thomas will shine among the array of stars hitting the diamond as the State College Spikes host the Celebrity Softball Game at the 2018 New York-Penn League All-Star Game presented by the Central Pennsylvania Convention and Visitors Bureau on Tuesday, August 14.
(Photo courtesy of Penn State Athletics)
Carter will serve as a playing captain for his squad in the exhibition contest, which will take place at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park with a 5 p.m. start time, followed by the NYPL All-Star Game at 7:05 p.m.
The 1994 Heisman Trophy runner-up and 1995 number one overall draft pick, Carter helped lead the undefeated 1994 Lions to a Rose Bowl championship.
Thomas, who was selected with the second overall pick in the 1990 Draft, rushed for 3,301 yards in his Blue and White career. The Philadelphia native was part of the 1986 National Champions, and rebounded from reconstructive knee surgery to complete his college career second only to Curt Warner on the school’s all-time rushing list.
Spikes honorary bench coach Josiah Viera, who has served as the catalyst for two league championships and three Pinckney Division titles during his time with the club, will be the other team captain for this one-of-a-kind event.
The cavalcade of legends and celebrities playing in the game also includes Wally Richardson, who started two seasons at quarterback for the Nittany Lions from 1995-96 and is now the director of the Penn State Football Letterman’s Club.
In addition, several other Penn State gridiron greats will be on the diamond, including linebacker Rogers Alexander (1982-85), offensive lineman Keith “Goon” Conlin (1992-95), defensive end Brandon Noble (1993-96), linebacker/defensive back Joe Rose (1995-99), defensive back Yaacov Yisrael (2000-03), safety Paul Cronin (2002-05), wide receiver Brett Brackett (2006-09).
Juqua Parker, who spent 12 years as a defensive end in the NFL with Tennessee, Philadelphia and Cleveland, will also take part in the game, as well as former Nittany Lion basketball standouts Brian Allen (1986-89) and Tyler Smith (1998-2002)
Other local luminaries lending their baseball skills to the event include “Sports Central” radio host and Altoona Mirror sportswriter Cory Giger, WTAJ-TV morning anchor K.C. Kantz, Penn State Alumni Association CEO and Penn State associate vice president for alumni relations Paul Clifford, NEWSRADIO 1390 WRSC “Morning Guys” co-host Jeff “Ironhead” Byers, WJAC-TV sports reporter Candace Martino, and 93.7 THE BUS morning radio host/Spikes public address announcer Jeff Brown.
Legendary local figures Brad “Spider” Caldwell and Mike Herr, a.k.a. Mike the Mailman, will also be playing in the game. Caldwell, the longtime equipment manager for Penn State Football, is currently the Facilities Coordinator at Beaver Stadium. Herr retired in 2016 after 48 years working for the U.S. Post Office on the PSU campus, during which his smiling face and affable demeanor made an impression on thousands and thousands of Penn Staters.
Admission for the Celebrity Softball Game comes with a ticket to the 2018 New York-Penn League All-Star Game presented by the Central PA Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Tickets for the All-Star Game can be purchased online at StateCollegeSpikes.com, by phone at (814) 272-1711 or in person by visiting the Spikes Ticket Office in person at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. Ticket Office hours are 9 a.m. to the end of the game on gamedays Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to the end of the game on gamedays Saturday and Sunday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during non-game days Monday through Friday.
