Alice’s Ava Hernandez voted SBLive’s Texas High School Athlete of the Week (May 8-14)

Congratulations to Alice softball senior pitcher Ava Hernandez for being voted SBLive’s Texas High School Athlete of the Week for April 8-14!

Hernandez was lights out during back-to-back wins in the circle to lead the Coyotes to a 2-0 series sweep of Pearsall in the regional quarterfinals of the Class 4A UIL softball playoffs, which featured a 5-0 victory and a 10-1 win for Alice.

In two consecutive complete-game performances, Alice’s senior ace threw for 19 strikeouts, four hits allowed, four walks, one earned run allowed and a .080 OBA through 14.0 innings pitched for the Coyotes

She was also 3-for-7 hitting (.429 AVG) with three RBI, two runs scored, a double, a stolen base and a .429 OBP offensively.

In one of our closest votes of the season, Hernandez narrowly won the latest Texas Athlete of the Week vote to capture this week's honor, receiving 51.47% of the vote. Flower Mound junior first baseman Adrian Rodriguez finished second with 46.53% of the vote.

The Coyotes have since wrapped up their 2023 campaign after Alice (29-9, 9-1) was knocked out of the postseason by Boerne in a 7-2 loss during the regional semifinals round of the Class 4A UIL softball playoffs.

If you would like to nominate an athlete, please email athleteoftheweek@scorebooklive.com or message us on Twitter or Instagram at @sblivetx.

Here are the other athletes who were nominated for May 8-14:

TRACK AND FIELD

Taylor Nunez, Universal City Randolph

Nunez broke three state records during a single day Thursday at the Class 3A UIL State Track & Field Meet, winning gold medals in the 3A girls 100 and 200-meter dashes as well as the long jump. She won the long jump with a leap of 20 feet and 2.5 inches to soar past the previous 3A girls long jump state record (19’11”) set by Alto’s Monique Hackney in 2005, and finished first in both the 100 and 200 with times of 11.44 seconds and # seconds, respectively, to break her own 3A girls 100-meter dash state record (11.59 seconds) set last year and the 200-meter dash state record set by Hamlin’s Cynthia Titus in 1986

Taytum Goodman, Earth Springlake

Goodman ran away with three gold medals and broke three state records during a strong Saturday performance at the Class 1A UIL State Track & Field Meet, taking the top spot on the podium in the 1A girls 800, 1600 and 3200-meter runs. She ran a 2-minute, 16.29-second time in the 800 and recorded a 10-minute, 56.53-second finish in the 3200 to best two of her own 1A UIL state records that were set when she was a freshman at the 2021 UIL state meet.

Jakyen Wright, Paducah

Wright won the boys 100 and 200-meter dashes Saturday at the Class 1A UIL State Track & Field Meet, setting a new state record in the 200 with a time of 22.20 seconds. He also ran as the anchor on Paducah’s 4x100-meter relay team — which clinched a first-place finish and broke the 1A boys 4x100 state record with a time of 42.80 seconds — and 4x200-meter relay team, which earned a spot atop the the podium too with a first-place finish (1 minute, 30.23 seconds).

Ernest Campbell, Refugio

Campbell won a gold medal and posted the fastest 100-meter dash time (10.22 seconds) of any classification level Friday at the Class 2A UIL State Track & Field Meet, finishing with a new 2A state record in the 100 that was previously set by Snook’s Stanley Kerr in 1985 (10.34 seconds). He also helped the Bobcats capture first place in the 2A boys 4x100-meter relay (41.95 seconds).

Yierra Flemings, Cameron Yoe

Flemings broke one of the longest-standing records in Texas high school track and field, winning the 400-meter dash with a time of 54.51 seconds to surpass the previous 3A girls UIL state record in the event (54.84 seconds) set by Spur’s Essie Kelly in 1974. She also raced to a first-place finish in the girls 100-meter hurdles (13.92 seconds) Thursday at the Class 3A UIL State Track & Field Meet, becoming one of only a select few sub-5A hurdlers in UIL history to post a time under 14 seconds in the event.

Madeline Fey, Midlothian

Fey earned a gold medal at the Class 5A UIL State Track & Field Meet on Friday by smashing the previous 5A girls discus state record with a 175-foot, 8-inch throw that topped a record set by Red Oak’s D’Andra Carter in 1996 (163’6”).

Jarvis Anderson, Taylor

Anderson rewrote the record book at the Class 4A UIL State Track & Field Meet, cruising to a gold-medal finish in the 4A boys 300-meter hurdles with a 35.96-second finish that broke a 4A UIL state record that was previously set by Rockdale’s Tony Brooks in 1985 (36.44 seconds). He also won a gold medal in the 4A boys 110-meter hurdles with a time of 13.64 seconds.

Bradford Jennings, Corpus Christi Flour Bluff

Jennings soared to the top of the podium and into the record books Friday at the Class 5A UIL State Track & Field Meet, winning a gold medal in the boys high jump with a 7-foot, 1.75-inch leap that topped a 5A UIL state record set by Canyon’s Ernie Mendez in 1983 (7’1.5”).

Lauren Lewis, Prosper

Lewis pulled away from a talented state-championship heat in the girls 400-meter dash Saturday at the Class 6A UIL State Track & Field Meet, cementing a gold-medal performance by earning first place with a 51.45-second finish, which set a new 6A UIL state record.

Jelani Watkins, Klein Forest

Watkins won three gold medals and helped lead Klein Forest to an overall team state title too on Saturday at the Class 6A UIL State Track & Field Meet. He finished first in the 6A boys 100-meter dash and played a key part in the Eagles’ gold-medal finishes in the 4x100 and 4x200-meter relays.

SOFTBALL

Alexis Warncke, East Bernard P/UTL

Warncke led the Brahmas to a 2-0 series sweep of Shepherd in the regional quarterfinals of the Class 3A UIL softball playoffs, earning a pair of wins in the circle in East Bernard’s 2-0 victory and 8-1 victory over the Pirates throwing for 24 Ks, three hits allowed, one walk, one unearned run allowed and a .063 OBA in 14.0 innings pitched. She tossed a complete-game no-hitter in her team’s 2-0 series-opening win against Shepherd.

She was also 2-for-5 hitting (.400 AVG) with two runs scored, two walks, a stolen base and a .571 OBP for the Brahmas.

Ava Brown, Montgomery Lake Creek P/DH/1B

Brown — a Florida Gators signee — went the distance to earn a win in the circle, leading Lake Creek to a 9-0 win over Pflugerville in the regional quarterfinals of the Class 5A UIL softball playoffs by throwing for 15 strikeouts, two hits allowed, one walk and a .087 OBA in a complete-game shutout through 7.0 innings pitched.

She was also 2-for-3 hitting (.667 AVG) with an RBI, a walk and a .750 OBP offensively for the Lions.

Ava Hernandez, Alice P

Hernandez earned back-to-back wins in the circle for the Coyotes in a 5-0 victory and a 10-1 win against Pearsall in the regional quarterfinals of the Class 4A UIL softball playoffs, throwing for 19 strikeouts, four hits allowed, four walks, one earned run allowed and a .080 OBA in 14.0 innings pitched.

She was also 3-for-7 hitting (.429 AVG) with three RBI, two runs scored, a double, a stolen base and a .429 OBP at the plate for Alice.

Avery Howerton, Whitesboro P

Howerton was 4-for-8 hitting (.500 AVG) with four runs scored, three extra-base hits, two RBI, two triples, a home run and a .500 OBP in a 2-0 series sweep of Prairiland in the regional quarterfinals of the Class 3A UIL softball playoffs, with a 5-0 win and a 7-6 victory in eight innings for Whitesboro.

She also earned two wins in the circle after throwing for eight strikeouts, 13 hits allowed, three walks, five earned runs allowed and a .217 OBA in 15.0 innings pitched for the Bearcats.

Lindsey Mauppin, Dodd City INF/P

Mauppin was 5-for-5 hitting (1.000 AVG) with seven runs scored, five extra-base hits, four walks, four RBI, four doubles, a home run and a 1.000 OBP in a 2-0 series sweep of Abbott in the regional semifinals of the Class 1A UIL softball playoffs, with a 10-3 win and an 18-1 victory for Dodd City.

She also earned a win in the circle after throwing for 11 strikeouts, two hits allowed, two walks, three unearned runs allowed and a .074 OBA in 7.0 innings pitched for the Hornets.

Hannah Wells, Coahoma P

Wells earned a win in the circle after making two appearances in back-to-back no-hitters during Coahoma’s 2-0 series sweep of Henrietta in the regional quarterfinals of the Class 3A UIL softball playoffs, throwing for 17 strikeouts, two walks and no hits or runs allowed in 9.0 innings pitched.

She was also 3-for-5 hitting (.600 AVG) with three walks, an RBI, a run scored, a home run and a .750 OBP offensively for the Bulldogs in a 5-0 victory and an 11-0 win over Henrietta.

Rayelee Keen, Milano UTL

Keen was 4-for-10 hitting (.400 AVG) with five RBI, five runs scored, two extra-base hits, a triple, a double and a .400 OBP in a 2-1 series victory over Latexo in the regional quarterfinals of the Class 2A UIL softball playoffs, with a 5-2 win, a 2-1 loss and a 12-5 victory for Milano.

Emily Simmons, Langham Creek P

Simmons earned a pair of wins in the circle in Langham Creek’s 1-0 victory and 3-2 win over Klein Collins, throwing for 28 strikeouts, four hits allowed, four walks, one earned run allowed and .089 OBA in 14.0 innings pitched.

She was also 1-for-7 hitting (. AVG) with an RBI offensively in the Lobos’ series sweep in the regional quarterfinals of the Class 6A UIL softball playoffs.

Abby Steele, Decatur C/UTL

Steele was 3-for-9 hitting (.333 AVG) with four RBI, three runs scored, three extra-base hits, two doubles, a home run and a .333 OBP in a 2-0 series sweep of Graham in the regional quarterfinals of the Class 4A UIL softball playoffs, with an 8-1 win and an 11-5 victory for the Eagles.

Jade Uresti, Fort Bend Ridge Point 2B/SS

Uresti — a Prairie View A&M Panthers commit — was 4-for-9 hitting (.444 AVG) with six RBI, two runs scored, a double, a walk and a .500 OBP in a 2-0 series sweep of Houston Heights in the regional quarterfinals of the Class 6A UIL softball playoffs, with a 17-3 win and an 8-7 victory for the Panthers.

BASEBALL

Jackson Hill, Keller OF

Hill — a UT-Arlington Mavericks commit — was 5-for-8 hitting (.625 AVG) with three RBI, three runs scored, three SBs, a triple and a .625 OBP in a 2-0 series sweep of El Paso Pebble Hills in the area round of the Class 6A UIL baseball playoffs, with an 8-3 win and a 7-1 victory for the Indians.

Chase Weaver, Hamilton P/1B/CF

Weaver tossed a no-hitter in the Bulldogs’ 10-0 victory against Colorado City in the area round of the Class 2A UIL baseball playoffs, striking out 15 while walking just one through 6.0 shutout innings pitched to earn the win on the mound.

He was also 1-for-3 hitting (.333 AVG) with three RBI, a run scored, a home run, a walk and a .500 OBP for Hamilton offensively.

Josiah Gonzalez, La Joya Palmview C/P

Gonzalez was 5-for-8 hitting (.625 AVG) with four RBI, two doubles and a .556 OBP in a 2-1 series victory over Sharyland Pioneer in the area round of the Class 5A UIL baseball playoffs, with a 4-2 win, a 4-3 loss and a 3-2 victory for the Lobos.

Camron Redwine, Tatum C

Redwine was 3-for-7 hitting (.429 AVG) with four RBI, two runs scored, two SBs, a home run, a double, a walk and a .500 OBP in a 2-0 series sweep of Winnsboro in the area round of the Class 3A UIL baseball playoffs, with a 9-4 win and a 7-5 victory for the Eagles.

Robert Gonzalez, Pleasanton LF/P

Gonzalez was 4-for-9 hitting (.444 AVG) with four RBI, four runs scored, three walks, a home run and a .583 OBP in a 2-1 series victory over Zapata in the area round of the Class 4A UIL baseball playoffs, with a 9-4 win, a 2-1 loss and an 11-1 victory for Pleasanton.

Adrian Rodriguez, Flower Mound 1B

Rodriguez was 3-for-5 hitting (.600 AVG) with five RBI, two extra-base hits, two walks, a run scored, a home run, a double and a .714 OBP in a 2-0 series sweep of South Grand Prairie in the area round of the Class 6A UIL baseball playoffs, with a 5-0 win and a 9-0 victory for Flower Mound.

Vinny Cano, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo P/1B/OF

Cano was 3-for-10 hitting (.300 AVG) with three RBI, a run scored, a triple and a .300 OBP in a 2-1 series victory over Laredo Alexander in the area round of the Class 6A UIL baseball playoffs, with a 3-0 win, an 8-4 loss and a 5-3 victory for PSJA High.

He also picked up a win on the mound in Game 1 of the Bears’ area-round series after throwing a complete-game shutout, tallying three strikeouts, five hits allowed, two walks and .200 OBA in 7.0 innings pitched.

Jackson Jolly, Lubbock Monterey P/UTL

Jolly was 6-for-11 hitting (.545 AVG) with four RBI, three runs scored, two extra-base hits, a home run, a triple and a .545 OBP in a 2-1 series victory over El Paso Hanks in the area round of the Class 5A UIL baseball playoffs, with an 8-4 win, a 7-6 loss and a 3-1 victory for Monterey.

He also picked up a win on the mound in Game 1 of the Plainsmen’s area round series, throwing for six strikeouts, seven hits allowed, two walks and four earned runs allowed in 7.0 innings pitched.

Blake Cox, Hallsville P/OF

Cox was 4-for-8 hitting (.500 AVG) with four RBI, two SBs, a run scored, a double, a walk and a .556 OBP in a 2-0 series sweep of Denison in the area round of the Class 5A UIL baseball playoffs, with a 1-0 win and a 12-1 victory for Hallsville.

He also picked up a win on the mound in Game 2 of the Bobcats’ area-round series, throwing for seven strikeouts, two hits allowed, two walks, one earned run allowed and .118 OBA in 5.0 innings pitched.

Owen Stevenson, Lucas Lovejoy 1B/DH

Stevenson was 2-for-7 hitting (.286 AVG) with three RBI, two runs scored, two extra-base hits, a home run, a double, a walk and a .375 OBP in a 2-0 series sweep of Texarkana Texas High in the area round of the Class 5A UIL baseball playoffs, with an 11-3 win and a 5-1 victory for the Leopards.