St. Viator Baseball to Present Trophy at Arlington's Spellman Stakes

Arlington International Racecourse will host the third annual Mike Spellman Memorial Stakes on Saturday to honor the late Daily Herald sportswriter. The 3A state champion St. Viator baseball team will perform the honorary trophy presentation.

Spellman, who passed away in 2015 and covered horseracing, hockey and other sports for the Herald, was a St. Viator alumnus and star catcher on the Lions baseball team. His brother, Neal Spellman, will join the baseball team to present the trophy.

Arlington plans to name the fifth race after the champion Lions, who beat Marian Catholic to win the school’s first state baseball title. Approximately 60 members of the baseball team, coaching staff and parents will be at Arlington to be honored.

Arlington’s gates will open at noon Saturday, with first post at 1:25 p.m. The race to honor the St. Viator baseball champs will post at 3:39 p.m., and the Mike Spellman Memorial Stakes, the seventh race of the day, will post at 4:44 p.m.