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Here are the candidates for the Minnesota High School Athlete of the Week for May 9-15 as nominated by coaches, fans and readers.

Read through the nominees and cast your vote. Voting will conclude Sunday at 11:59 p.m. and the winner will be announced Monday.

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

Dominic Adkins, St. Agnes

The St. Thomas commit went 9-for-12 with two doubles, two walks, a triple, a homer, 10 RBI, six runs, and four stolen bases over four victories last week. He’s third in the state with 23 hits on the season.

Noah Hahn, New Life Academy

The sophomore struck out 17 batters over two games and nine innings pitched. He pitched a three-hit shutout against St. Croix Prep on May 10, and allowed just one run on three more hits in a 20-2 drubbing of St. Croix Lutheran on May 15. 

He struck out 10 of 15 batters faced, and his five wins are tied for the most in Minnesota.

Alex Christian, Legacy Christian

The senior went 6-for-9 with a double, three triples, six RBIs, two stolen bases, and two runs scored over two wins last week. His 22 RBIs are second-most in the state.

Evan Nelson, Hastings

The junior went 10-for-19 with a double, three triples, two homers, seven RBI, and seven runs scored over five games. He leads all of Minnesota with a 1.457 OPS (minimum 50 at-bats).

River Freeman, Hermantown

The sophomore pitched a complete game allowing just one unearned run, two hits, and an intentional walk in a 3-1 win at North St. Paul, May 9. 

He also went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. His 0.38 WHIP is the best in the state (minimum 10 innings pitched).

Softball

Cameron Chard, Belle Plaine

The senior smashed four homers in a 5-for-5 performance at the plate at Sibley East on May 12. 

She drove in 10 runs and scored four times in the 30-0 rout. She also hit a home run in a 10-1 win over Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial the previous day.

Carter Raymond, Randolph

The sophomore starting pitcher went 5-0, allowing just five earned runs over 28 innings pitched last week. She struck out 44 batters, and her 17 wins are the most in Minnesota. 

She also had 12 hits in 17 at-bats with two doubles, 12 RBI, two runs scored, and two stolen bases.

Kaitlyn Geschwill, Pequot Lakes

The senior went 4-1 in her starts last week, pitching 27 innings and allowing just two earned runs. 

She struck out 57 batters, allowed only eight hits and walked four. Her 200 strikeouts are second-most in the state.

Julianna Gazdik, Mounds Park Academy

The senior amassed 35 total bases over four games (three wins), going 11-for-15 with two doubles, a triple, two homers, 15 RBIs, and eight runs scored. Her 54 total bases are third-most in Minnesota.

Angela Proper, St. Agnes

The freshman starting pitcher went 4-0, pitching 25 innings and allowing just three earned runs while striking out 44 batters. She’s eighth in the state with 128 strikeouts this season. 

Track & Field

Ashley Fisher, Academy of Holy Angels

The junior won the 100-meter dash at the Section 4AA True Team Meet on May 11 with a personal best time of 12.12 seconds. 

She also won the 200-meter dash with a personal best time of 25.11. Both are the second-fastest finishes in the state this season. She took second in the triple jump with another personal best of 37 feet.

Jordan Hecht, Rosemount

The senior won the shot put (4kg) at the Section 3AAA True Team Meet on May 9 with a throw of 45 feet, five inches, shattering the previous best recorded throw in the state this season.

Samantha Carr, Shakopee

The freshman set a new Minnesota seasonal high in the long jump, going 18 feet, 7.75 inches at the Section 3AAA True Team Meet, May 9.

Harlow Tong, St. Paul Central

The junior won the 200-meter (21.79 seconds) and 400-meter (48.5 seconds) races at the Section 6AAA True Team Meet on May 9. 

Both finishes were personal bests and the top times recorded in the state this season.

Avery Batala, Hopkins

The sophomore won the 300-meter hurdles (36-inch) at the Section 7AAA True Team Meet, May 10. His time of 39.51 seconds was a personal and Minnesota best for this season.

Lacrosse

Axel Esco, Benilde-St. Margaret’s

The junior goaltender stopped 16 of 17 shots over two games: a 16-1 win over Moorhead on May 9, and a 17-0 shutout at New Prague on May 11. His 10 goaltender wins are the most in the state.

Kadin Melin, Chisago Lakes

The senior attacker scored six goals and added three assists in a 17-5 win at Becker, May 12. 

He also scored three times in a 9-6 win at Duluth, May 9. His 32 goals are tied for seventh-most in Minnesota.

Carter Van Holland, Chanhassen

The senior attacker had four goals and an assist in a 12-7 win over St. Thomas Academy on May 11 and had four more goals and three assists in a 16-6 win over Bloomington Jefferson two days prior. 

His 18 assists has him tied for ninth in the state.

Jordin Rosga, Cretin-Derham Hall

The seventh grader scored five goals in all three games played last week, also adding seven assists. Her 50 goals are third-most in Minnesota.

Evan Strain, Rochester Mayo

In a 16-9 win at Hastings, Strain had 40 saves on 49 shots faced. Two days later she stopped 10-of-20 en route to a 16-10 victory over Northfield. 

Her .679 save percentage is the best in the state (minimum 400 minutes played).