There were a smattering of different colored uniforms all over the field, defensive lineups were changing every inning, and some of the players met for the first time in the pregame warm up.

There was even a left fielder using a catcher's mitt in the outfield.

Such is life in an all-star game. On the periphery, it might seem like a tough way to play a game – exhibition or not.

But this is the softball community.

Everyone is seemingly connected. Call it six degrees of Jennie Finch.

It was a case study in figuring things out on the fly while 50 some girls and a handful of coaches from around the state participated in two all-star games Wednesday night at Red Mountain. Chances are they played with each other on a club team or knew one of their teammates.

Or played on a previous all-star team as was the case with Highland’s Cambria Chacon and Mesa’s Anna Hernandez, who were on the 2019 Gilbert Softball Little League squad that won the 9-11 state title.

Another example was the home run derby; the two finalists were from separate high school teams, but they’ve known each other since they were 12.

That’s why when Queen Creek’s Charli Dixon and Highland’s Mia OCampo squared off in the finals – won eventually by Dixon after two tie-breaker rounds – it was nothing but love throughout the competition.

“It’s the first time I’ve ever been in one,” Dixon said. “I loved it and going against Mia made it better. We’ve known each other for years. It gets competitive because you want to win, but you want her to do well, too.”

It was the sentiment throughout.

Afterall, while a good portion of the players were headed off to colleges such as New Mexico State, Utah State, Colorado School of Mines, and Missouri Southern State University, some of the players put on their shinnies, pulled their gloves out their bat bag and laced their spikes one last time.

“It’s a great experience,” Hernandez said. “I played in all-stars (9-11 for Gilbert Softball Little League) and now I am getting that chance again.”

The first game – the 4A-5A game – was won by the Blue Team as Arizona College Prep’s Rachel Cain was named MVP.  She led the charge during a six-run fifth inning with a two-run double to complete an 8-5 comeback victory.

“This was a great experience,” said Cain, who is going to Missouri Western State. “Getting a chance to play one more high school game in this environment was a nice way to end (her career).”

The 6A game featured two of the top pitchers in the classification with Red Mountain’s Kendall Cochran (Blue team) and Highland’s Chacon (Red team) stepping into the circle after facing each other in the postseason a few weeks ago.

The Red Team won the 6A All-Star Game thanks to some late offense but also the pitching of Chacon.

Highland's Cambria Chacon was named MVP after throwing five scoreless innings to help the Red Team to a win. (Andy Silvas, Special to AZPreps365)

It was a low scoring affair through four innings, with the MVP going to Chacon, who threw five scoreless innings and struck out seven, as the Red Team won 18-2.

“There was a time when I wasn’t sure I was going to get a chance to pitch my senior year,” Chacon, who is headed to Central Arizona, said referring to an elbow injury. “So to get a chance to play in this game, do well and finish my career pitching to my catcher (MadiLynn Bowen) one more time meant a lot.”