Vote now: Who should be the WaFd Bank Oregon High School Softball Player of the Week?
Here are the candidates for the WaFd Bank Oregon High School Softball Player of the Week for April 18-24 as nominated by coaches, fans and readers.
Read through the nominees and cast your vote. We’ll send a free SBLive T-shirt to the winner of the poll! 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 danbrood91@gmail.com.
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.
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Grace Athanas, Southridge
The junior blasted two home runs, going 2 for 2 at the plate, while also walking twice and driving in four runs, helping the Skyhawks post an 8-5 win over Jesuit in a Metro League game at Jesuit High School. Athanas drove in eight runs during the week.
Ella Baley, Mazama
The junior, with impressive hitting and pitching, helped power the Vikings to a 20-0, five-inning win over North Valley in a Skyline Conference game at Mazama High School. At the plate, Baley went 2 for 3 with a walk, a stolen base, four runs and an RBI. In the circle, Baley gave up just one hit while striking out six and walking one in five innings.
Aryanna Belloir, Glide
The freshman pitcher had a big week for the Wildcats, throwing 13 scoreless innings, giving up just four hits while striking out 25 and walking four.
Karley Bloxham, Pleasant Hill
The sophomore pitched a one-hit shutout, striking out six and walking one, helping the Billies record a 12-0, five-inning win over Creswell in a Mountain Valley Conference game at Pleasant Hill High School. Bloxham also had a hit and scored two runs in the victory.
Peyton Geiger, Glide
The freshman catcher blasted a three-run walkoff homer, her fourth home run of the season, helping lead the Wildcats to a win over Oakridge in Southern Cascade League play. Geiger went 2 for 4, with her other hit being a triple.
Mack Gerlach, Summit
The junior had a big day for the Storm as she stepped up in a sweep of McKay in a Mountain Valley Conference doubleheader at McKay High School. In the first game, Gerlach went 3 for 3 with a double, two stolen bases, three runs and two RBIs. In the second game, she went 4 for 5 with a stolen base, three runs and four RBIs.
Jazmyne Gonzales, Union/Cove
The junior went 4 for 4 with a double and three RBIs, helping the Bobcats post an 8-5 win over Echo/Stanfield in the second game of a Blue Mountain Conference doubleheader at Echo High School.
Ashley Goodale, Mountainside
The junior shortstop had a big three-game stretch for the Mavericks in Metro League play. Goodale, in those three victories, went 7 for 11 with eight RBIs, seven runs, five stolen bases and a walkoff home run in the seventh inning in an 11-10 win over Jesuit.
Gracie Hamilton, Mazama
The senior catcher went 2 for 4 with a home run, a double, two runs and four RBIs, as she helped lead the Vikings to a 20-0, five-inning win over North Valley in a Skyline Conference game at Mazama High School. Hamilton went 2 for 3 with a double, a home run, four runs and five RBIs in a 25-1 victory over Hidden Valley.
Gabby Heiken, Ashland
The senior went 5 for 6 with a double, a triple, two runs and four RBIs, helping the Grizzlies pull through to get an 11-7, 10-inning win over Churchill in a Midwestern League game at Churchill High School.
Melinda Herrejon, Gresham
The freshman, batting in the No. 9 spot in the order, blasted a three-run homer in the top of the sixth inning, giving the Gophers a come-from-behind 5-4 win over Nelson in a Mt. Hood Conference game at Nelson High School.
Trinity Holden, Lebanon
In a three-game span for the Warriors, the senior catcher hit for an .833 batting average, with a slugging percentage of 2.000, with two home runs, a double, seven RBIs, three walks and two hit-by-pitch. Holden also had two stolen bases.
Jenna Hopkins, Kennedy
The junior, with strong pitching and hitting, helped lead the Trojans to an 8-1 win over Jefferson in a Special District 2 game at Jefferson High School. At the plate, Hopkins went 2 for 4 with a triple, two runs and an RBI. In the circle, she gave up one unearned run on three hits while striking out 12 and walking none.
Addison Kachnik, Mountainside
The senior went 3 for 4 with a triple, two runs and two RBIs, helping power the Mavericks to a 15-0, five-inning win over Beaverton in a Metro League contest at Mountainside High School.
Hayden Napier, North Bend
The junior went 3 for 3 with a double, a stolen base, a walk, three runs and four RBIs, helping the Bulldogs earn a 19-4 win over Churchill in a Midwestern League game at Churchill High School.
Brooke Peterson, Churchill
The sophomore blasted two home runs while also scoring three runs and driving in four for the Lancers in an 11-7, 10-inning loss to Ashland in a Midwestern League game at Churchill High School. Peterson went 3 for 4 with a double, a triple, a run and four RBIs in an 8-6 win over the Grizzlies.
Makenna Reid, Tigard
The left-handed pitcher continued her amazing senior season, throwing a two-hit shutout, striking out 16 and walking two, helping the Tigers get a 1-0 win over rival Tualatin in a key Three Rivers League contest at Tigard High School.
Jessica Rule, Stayton
The junior, in addition to picking up the pitching win, went 2 for 3 at the plate with two runs and an RBI, helping the Eagles notch a 12-2, five-inning victory over Sweet Home in an Oregon West Conference game at Stayton High School.
Camille Schmitz, Tualatin
The senior pitcher gave up one unearned run on four hits while striking out 15 and walking one, as she helped lead the Timberwolves to a 5-1 win over Lake Oswego in a Three Rivers League game at Lake Oswego Junior High.
Payton Schwab, Crater
The sophomore went 3 for 3 with a double, a triple, three runs and six RBIs, helping the Comets earn a 20-0 win over Springfield in the second game of a Midwestern League doubleheader at Maple Elementary School in Springfield. Schwab’s big hit was a three-run triple in the first inning.
Kelsey Smith, Cleveland
The senior pitcher – the only senior on the Warriors’ roster – stepped up in a big way in a 3-2 loss to Roosevelt in a Portland Interscholastic League battle. Smith struck out 12 batters while also having three assists, making her responsible for 15 of the 18 outs Cleveland recorded. She also drove in the Warriors’ two runs.
Emersyn Stepp, Gladstone
The junior went 4 for 5 with a home run, three runs and four RBIs, helping lead the Gladiators to a 14-7 win over Corbett in a Tri-Valley Conference game at Corbett High School.
Chloe Stromme, Oregon City
The freshman went 2 for 3 with a double and a run, helping the Pioneers get a 2-1 win over Tualatin in a key Three Rivers League game at Tualatin High School. Stromme, playing third base, also had a key defensive play, making a diving stop and then a throw from her knees to first to get the out.
Isabelle Trevino, Stayton
The junior had a hit, three runs and two stolen bases for the Eagles in a 5-3 win over Philomath in an Oregon West Conference game at Stayton High School. Trevino also picked up a complete-game pitching win, giving up three runs (one earned) on five hits while striking out three and walking two.
Iszabelle Vanderford, Bend
The junior belted two home runs, helping the Lava Bears get a 1-0, 12-1 sweep over Sprague in a key Mountain Valley Conference doubleheader at Sprague High School.
Mya Ward, West Salem
The freshman shortstop had a big week for the Titans, going 6 for 9 at the plate with a home run, two doubles, four runs and six RBIs. Ward went 4 for 4 and hit for the cycle in a win over Mountain View. She also shined on defense in the week, having 10 putouts and seven assists.
Savannah Watterson, Grant Union/Prairie City
The freshman went 3 for 5 with a double, two runs and three RBIs, helping the Prospectors earn a 12-5 win over Lakeview in the second game of a nonleague doubleheader at Lakeview High School.
Drew Williams, Grant Union/Prairie City
The sophomore threw a complete-game one-hit shutout, striking out 13 and walking none, helping the Prospectors notch a 3-0 win over Lakeview in the first game of a nonleague doubleheader at Lakeview High School. Williams went 3 for 4 in a 12-5 win in the second game.
Malia Williams, Marist Catholic
The senior pitched a perfect game, leading the Spartans to a 10-0, six-inning win over Cottage Grove in a Sky Em League contest at Marist Catholic. Williams struck out 16 and walked none in her six innings. She also had a hit, scored two runs and stole a base.
