Soccer: Four Diamond All-Star games hosted by Greencastle on Wednesday

What began as a nice little idea has grown into a genuine tradition for the end of the high school soccer season each November.

The Four Diamonds All-Star Soccer event, which is being held Wednesday night at Greencastle-Antrim's Kaley Field, is now in its 14th year, and has solidified its place as an event looked forward to by the players and fans.

The girls game begins at 5:30, followed by the boys about 7 p.m.

In both games, a Pennsylvania team of senior all-stars from Franklin and Fulton counties will take on a team from Washington County, Md.

The boys game that was once dominated by Pa. has become very competitive in recent years, with Maryland holding a 2-0-2 record over the last four years. Pennsylvania still leads the series 7-3-3.

The girls are in just their third year and Pa. has a win and a tie in the two previous games.

Of course, the real reason for the event is to raise money for a good cause – the Four Diamonds Cancer Fund at Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey. That fund provides finalcial help for families of young cancer patients.

The Four Diamonds games have raised over $14,000 for that cause since its inception.

The game began in Waynesboro, home of the game's organizer, Steve Tanner, but when Kaley Field became a turf field, the game was moved. Now that Waynesboro also has turf, it was possible to move it back, but Tanner decided to keep it in Greencastle.

"For one thing, it's more convenient for the kids from Maryland, who can right up I-81," Tanner said. "And the kids from the west on the Pa. team don't have as far to go. And we've done pretty well at the gate in Greencastle."

Team sponsors this year are Chambersburg American Legion for the Pa. team and Screentique for Maryland.

Four Diamonds

All-Star Soccer Games

Pennsylvania Rosters

GIRLS

Goalkeepers – Megan Cottingham (Chambersburg), Taylor Welty (Waynesboro). Defenders – Alyssa Denkovich (Greencastle-Antrim), Meghan Hirneisen (G-A), Michaela Shover (Way), Kaila Ocker (Shippensburg), Megan Shockey (Way), Haley Alger (James Buchanan). Midfielders/forwards – Claire Jacobs (Chbg), Isabella Weigel (Chbg), Ally Rudy (G-A), Kayla Snider (JB), Monica Beck (Way), Kennedy Chandler (Way), Katie Clawson (Way), Alexis Mellott (McConnellsburg), Hannah McGarvey (McConn), Sarah Lyman (Mercersburg Academy).

BOYS

Goalkeepers – Chandler Schur (Chbg), Jamie Birgfeld (Fannett-Metal). Defenders – Braxton Shetter (Ship), Austyn Smith (G-A), Ryan Yoder (G-A), Elliott Swink (Way), Kane Doyle (Merc), Ryan Klaff (Merc). Midfielder/forwards – Eric Dixon (Chbg), Erik Espinoza (Chbg), Matt West (Ship), Luke Ashberry (Ship), Layton Hoffmann (F-M), Jake Boehme (McConn), Patrick Keefer (McConn), Cyrus Lehman (Shalom Christian), Elliot Hicks (Merc).