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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Olivia Grassel
Boscobel grad goes 4-for-8 with HR in WFSCA All-Star Classic
Grassel
Boscobel's Olivia Grassel went 4-for-8 with a home run to help the Division 4/5 Red team split a pair of games at last week's Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association All-Star Classic in Wisconsin Dells.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The Swnews4u.com Athlete of the Week is a web-only feature that will publish each Thursday throughout the calendar year.

Olivia Grassel, P/IF, Sr., Boscobel softball

     Recent Boscobel graduate Olivia Grassel capped her stellar prep softball career by helping the Division 4/5 Red team split a pair of games at last week’s Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association All-Star Classic in Wisconsin Dells. Grassel is this week’s Mast Water Technology SWNews4U.com Athlete of the Week.

     Grassel went 4-for-8 with a home run last Tuesday at the Woodside Sports Complex, took a turn in the pitching circle and helped the D4/5 Red team defeat the Gray team 14–4 after a narrow loss to the D4/5 Black team. Grassel’s Red team lost a 9–8 decision to the Black squad. Grassel went 2-for-4 in the game and took the loss in the pitcher's circle. Then, the Red team came back to 10-run the Gray team, 14–4, with Grassel going 2-for-4 with a home run to aid the cause.

     Grassel was a first-team All-Southwest Wisconsin Activities League selection this year after leading the Bulldogs (13–4, 11–3) to a second-place finish in the conference behind SWAL champion Mineral Point (17–5, 13–1).

     Southwestern's Mya Runde went 1-for-3 with a double in game one, then earned the pitching win for the Red in game two. Belmont’s Bri Ernst was 2-for-4 against Black and 1-for-3 with a double versus Gray, while Potosi’s Abby Kaiser went 4-for-7 on the day. Potosi’s Sophia Langkamp and Southwestern’s Allison Kruser each had a hit in both games for team Red.

 

HONORABLE MENTION (in alphabetical order): 

Jacob Berendes, P/IF, Sr., Benton/Shullsburg baseball

     Berendes was recently named the 2018 Six Rivers West Player of the Year after leading the Benton/Shullsburg co-op to a 19–3 mark and a perfect 14–0 record in league play. Berendes, a two-time first-team All-SRW selectin, posted a 6–1 mark with a save in 10 appearances on the mound with a 1.14 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 75 strikeouts and 16 walks in 49 innings. At the plate, he tied for the team lead with a .471 batting average after recording a team-high 33 hits with eight doubles, a home run, 16 RBI, 27 runs scored and team-high 15 stolen bases.

 

Emma Lawrence, G, Sr., Benton girls basketball

     Benton graduated Emma Lawrence scored 10 of her game-high 18 points in the fourth quarter, including seven during a key two-minute span late in the game, to rally the Division 5 South All-Star team to a 78–71 victory over the North in last Friday's 2018 WBCA All-Star Girls Basketball games in Wisconsin Dells.

 

Lydia Murphy, MF, Jr., Platteville/Lancaster girls soccer

     Murphy was recently named the Southwest Wisconsin Conference Player girls soccer Player of the Year after leading the Hillmen (9–6–3, 9–0–1 SWC) to a third straight SWC title. Murphy scored six goals and passed out a team-high 12 assists. She was the key in Platteville/Lancaster’s ability to control the ball in the midfield and transition offense into defense. Murphy is a three-time first-team All-SWC selection.

 

Trevor Neuroth, 3B/SS/CF/P, Sr., Fennimore baseball

     Neuroth was named this year’s SWAL Player of the Year after leading the Golden Eagles to a 19–6 record and a conference title with a 13–1 mark in league play. Neuroth, who played third base, shortstop, center field and pitcher this year, led the Eagles in nearly every offensive category. He finished his final season batting a team-high .476, whit a team-high 39 hits, 20 doubles, two triples, seven home runs, 36 RBI and 37 runs scored. He also walked 14 times and stole 12 bases.