Stillman College head coach Terrance Whittle and HBCU All-Star Kelvin Reese. Photo credit to Stillman College Athletics
HOOVER, Ala. – Stillman College’s Kelvin Reese was the offensive star of the show in the inaugural HBCU All-Star Game, presented by Minority Baseball Prospects on June 8 at Hoover Met Stadium.
“It felt so surreal to be out here and to be able to perform to the best of my abilities and go out and get in it,” Reese said. “It’s been amazing. Being out here with these guys, being able to be on the field, it’s a blessing. To God the glory. Thank God for everything. Without Him, I wouldn’t be able to do this.”
Reese earned a starting spot in center field for the home team and rotated every other inning in the field defensively. In the bottom of the second inning, Team Jennings drew a pair of walks before Kay Higgins Jr. of Arkansas Pine Bluff doubled to right center to plate the first run. Reese followed with a two-RBI double down the left field line off Clafflin’s Charles Jackson to give Team Jennings a 3-0 lead. It proved to be the winning hit in a 3-1 victory. Reese went on to still third in the inning, but was left stranded. He finished 1-for-2 in the game.
Team Weeks added a run in the top of the ninth inning on a bases-loaded walk, but Tyler Laux (Prarie View A&M) pitched out of the jam. Playing 10 innings, Alabama State’s Breon Pooler closed the 10th.
Stillman head coach Terrance Whittle was in attendance to support Reese.
“I’m so proud of Kelvin and what he’s done and how his season went. He was real deserving of this opportunity,” Whittle said. “I wasn’t surprised at all by his performance. I knew he was going to come out here and play hard and be a team guy, which is what he is. I’m so excited for him and Stillman College.”
The Montgomery, Alabama native was one of six Alabama natives appearing in the event. He hit .278 for Stillman College during his debut season in 2021 with 20 hits in 26 games. He had eight doubles and 11 RBI during the spring season for the Tigers.
In addition to the All-Star Game, Reese participated in a combine and youth clinic Monday, June 7, as well as tour the Birmingham Negro Southern League Museum at Regions Field.
More than 50 student-athletes from 26 HBCUs across NAIA, NCAA Division II and NCAA Division I competed in the game. The two teams for the All-Star Game were sponsored by former Tampa Bay Rays Rickie Weeks and Desmond Jennings, a Birmingham native.
Courtesy of Stillman College Athletic Department