Minnesota high school baseball and softball top performers of the week (April 25 - May 1)

If you would like to make a nomination in a future week, please email "varriano34@gmail.com" with “MHSAW Nomination” in the subject line.

Editor’s Note: Our Athlete of the Week feature and corresponding poll is intended to be fun, and we do not set limits on how many times a fan can vote during the competition. However, we do not allow votes that are generated by script, macro or other automated means. Athletes that receive votes generated by script, macro or other automated means will be disqualified.

Baseball

Max Barclay, Pierz

The junior went 3-for-5 with a homer, triple, eight RBI, and a run scored in a 14-7 win over Little Falls on April 25. He also drove in eight runs on a 2-for-3 day in a 13-10 win at Albany two days later, and on May 1, he went 3-for-3 with a double and five RBI in a 15-0 shutout at Zimmerman. His 21 runs batted in are the most in Minnesota.

Peter Douma, St. Paul Highland Park

The junior had home runs in back-to-back games against St. Paul Johnson, going 4-for-4 with six RBI and two runs scored in a 12-2 win, April 26, and 2-for-3 with four RBI and two runs scored in a 10-0 shutout, April 27. 

He then went 4-for-5 with a double, six RBI, and three runs scored in a 19-0 rout at St. Paul Harding, May 1. His 17 hits are the most in the state.

Daxter Lee, New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva

The junior stole nine bases without being caught over three games. On April 25, he went 1-for-4 with two RBI, two steals, and a run scored. On April 27, he went 1-for-4 with a walk, an RBI, six steals and four runs scored, and on May 1, he went 0-for-2 with two walks, a run scored and a stolen base. His 12 stolen bases are tied for the most in Minnesota.

Owen Marsolek, Duluth Marshall

The Hilltoppers’ starter pitched 10 shutout innings over two games. He allowed just one hit and three walks while striking out 12 in a 6-0 win at Pine City, May 1, and he allowed two hits, three walks and struck out nine in a 14-1 win at Cloquet, April 25. 

His three wins are second-most in the state, and his 35 strikeouts are fourth-most.

Nolan Lindholm, Legacy Christian

The senior starter struck out 14 batters over six innings, allowing just one hit and four walks in a 5-0 loss to New Life Academy on April 29. He also went 2-for-4 with a run scored in a 4-3 win over Eagle Ridge/United Christian on April 27, and 2-for-2 with two walks, one RBI and two runs scored in a 15-2 drubbing of PACT on April 25. His 36 strikeouts are third-most in Minnesota.

Softball

Paige Zender, Rosemount

The senior hit two homers, driving in seven runs, in a 15-0 win at Apple Valley, April 29. She had another homer and three RBI in an 11-1 win over Lakeville North, April 27. 

Her eight home runs are three more than any other player in the state.

Madelyn Anthony, North St. Paul

The sophomore hit home runs in back-to-back games, going 1-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored in a 5-2 win over Eden Prairie on April 29. She followed that up with a 3-for-4 performance featuring a double, the homer, four RBI, and a run scored in a 14-4 win over Two Rivers on May 1. 

She was also the winning pitcher in each of those games, tossing 12 innings and striking out 10. She leads the state in runs batted in (23) and hits (21).

Courtney Graff, Northfield

The Raiders’ starter went 10 innings, striking out 13 and allowing just one hit and one unearned run in a 1-0 loss to Rochester Century. Her 74 strikeouts are fourth-most in Minnesota.

Megan Sherwood, West Lutheran

She got the win in all five games she pitched last week, allowing just 12 hits, four walks and one earned run over 22 innings pitched. She struck out 30 batters. Her eight wins are second-most in the state.

Brooke Holmes, Prior Lake

In three games (all victories), the senior went 7-for-9 with two home runs, a double, three walks, five RBI and five runs scored. 

She was a triple from hitting for the cycle in a 7-2 win over Belle Plaine on April 27, and she drove in two of the three runs her team scored in a 3-2 win at Lakeville South on April 25. Her five home runs are tied for second-most in Minnesota.