Richland softball player Sophia Sams voted WaFd Bank Washington High School Athlete of the Week

Congratulations to Richland's Sophia Sams for being voted SBLive’s WaFd Bank Washington High School Athlete of the Week for May 8-May 13!

The sophomore did what an ace pitcher should - come up big in important games. And in the Class 4A District tournament, Sams recorded a pair of complete-game victories - the first a no-hitter over 4A/3A Mid-Columbia Conference foe Pasco (11 strikeouts and the second a one-hitter over league opponent Hanford. The all-league first teamer also notched three hits in both games.

Sams received 52.4% of the vote, beating out the Timberline baseball duo of Kaleb McNeely and Gage Reeser, who finished second with 41.0%.

We are currently accepting WaFd Bank Player of the Week nominations. If you would like to nominate an athlete, please email athleteoftheweek@scorebooklive.com or message us on Twitter or Instagram at @sblivewa.

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Here are the other athletes who were nominated for the week of May 8-May 13:

WASHINGTON NOMINEES

Jacob Andrews, Sehome boys track and field: Lowered his career-best time in the 200-meter dash to 21.10 seconds, best in Washington, at the Class 2A sub-district (D1) meet. Already has a top-10 time in the country in the 400 (46.30).

Cassandra Atkins, Federal Way girls track and field: Became the first girl since Monroe's Hannah Ganashamoorthy in 2018 to break the 20-foot barrier in the long jump with her 20-03/4 at the 4A/3A NPSL championships. Also flew a career-best 41-21/2 in the triple jump. Has No. 1 marks in Washington in both events.

Braelyn Baker, Bear Creek girls track and field: The reigning Class 1A sprints champion is not just about speed. She recorded a lifetime-best time in the 300-meter hurdles - 42.60 seconds (No. 1 in state) - and also went 18 feet, 81/4 inches in the long jump (No. 2 in state) at the 1A Emerald Sound Conference meet.

Addie Bowen, Walla Walla softball: Underdogs as the No. 5 in the Class 3A District 8 tournament, the Blue Devils beat Mead and Kennewick to advance to the title game. Bowen, a ninth grade third baseman, was 6-for-8 with five extra-base hits, including a fifth-inning grand slam (and six RBI) in win over the Lions.

Laila Carpenter and Faith Jordan, Glacier Peak softball: In the biggest game of the year for the No. 3 seed in the super 4A Wesco, both seniors smashed two home runs and collected five RBI in the team's 13-3 win over Lake Stevens to clinch the final district spot.

Alex Harris, Columbia River boys soccer: There's a reason he's the reigning Gatorade state player of the year - he scores goals. Harris recorded a hat trick in a district semifinal win over W.F. West, then scored twice in the first 12 minutes in a 3-0 title-match win over Aberdeen.

Alli Kimball, Peninsula softball: The WWU signee was at it again - both on the mound and with the bat. She struck out 23 hitters in 15 innings pitched (0.60 ERA), and was 8-for-10 at the plate with four RBI, including game-winning hit against Timberline.

Kaleb McNeely and Gage Reeser, Timberline baseball: Both standouts from the 3A SSC champions came up with walk-off winners in the Class 3A District 3/4 tournament. McNeely hit the game-winning three-run triple against Gig Harbor, and Reeser had the run-scoring single to beat Stadium in the WCD title game.

Brody Mills, West Valley of Yakima baseball: Cannot ever count the left-handed UW signee out, especially in big games. Mills gave up one earned runs and struck out nine hitters, and hit the game-tying two-run double with two outs in the seventh inning of the Rams' district-winning game against Moses Lake.

Tyler Normine, La Center baseball: Outfielder had season-high three RBI in first-round district victory against Eatonville, then had a two-run single in the fourth inning of the Wildcats' third consecutive district title-winning game against Montesano. Had an RBI in each of the team's three district games.

Brayden Platt, Yelm boys track and field: Is there anything he cannot do? The Tornados' junior recorded new personal-best marks in the boys shot put (62 feet, 43/4 inches) and discus (174-9) at the 3A SSC championships.