EDITOR'S NOTE: The Swnews4u.com Athlete of the Week is a web-only feature that will publish each Thursday throughout the calendar year.
by Tom Gunnell, Tri-County Press/Republican Journal and A.J. Gates, Herald Independent
Camden Russell, So., P, Shullsburg/Benton softball
SHULLSBURG – Strong pitching, good defense and timely hitting led Shullsburg/Benton to a pair of Six Rivers West victories on the softball diamond at Shullsburg's Badger Park.
Sophomore Camden Russell allowed two earned runs on three hits and three walks while striking out eight batters in the Miner-Zephyrs’ 9–3 win over River Ridge on Tuesday, April 19, and then freshman Jessie Ray earned a complete-game victory in her varsity debut in the pitcher’s circle, surrendering just one earned run on seven hits and a walk with 12 Ks in a 6–5 win over Monticello/New Glarus on Thursday, April 21.
Russell also led the Miner-Zephyrs (4–4 overall, 2–2 SRC) at the plate on Tuesday against the Timberwolves, going 2-for-4 with a double. Against the Ponies on Thursday, Russell finished 2-for-4 with a RBI and a run.
Saturday at Mineral Point, Shullsburg/Benton ran their winning streak to three games by defeating Monticello/New Glarus, 4–0, in their opening game of the Mineral Point Tournament, but the host Pointers kept the championship trophy at home by downing the Miner-Zephyrs, 13–3, in six innings in the title game.
Camden Russell (3–4) twirled a two-hit shutout against the Ponies, striking out 14 batters without issuing a walk in the game.
Logan Drone, Sr., P, River Ridge baseball
PATCH GROVE — After suffering Six Rivers West conference losses to Highland and Potosi/Cassville last week, the River Ridge varsity baseball team rebounded with a 1–0 victory over visiting Benton/Shullsburg this past Monday evening.
Senior pitcher Logan Drone led the Timberwolves (1–5, 1–4 SRW) to their first victory Monday night, throwing a no-hit shutout in a complete seven innings of work, while also striking out seven batters and walking four.
Drone threw 94 total pitches in the contest, 61 of which were strikes, while forcing seven ground outs and six fly outs to go along with his seven strikeouts.
At the plate, River Ridge managed seven hits, getting two each from senior third baseman Andrew Mims and freshman right fielder Andrew Nies.
The Timberwolves scored their only run of the game in the bottom of the first inning, where freshman shortstop Carter Copsey reached base on a single, and later scored on an RBI double hit by junior outfielder Braden Crubel.
In all, the Timberwolves left seven runners on base in the remaining five innings, including runners on second and third in the bottom of the sixth.
Benton/Shullsburg left a total of six runners on base, their biggest threat coming in the first inning, where they left runners at the corners.
HONORABLE MENTION (in alphabetical order
Blake Bussan, Sr., P, Cuba City baseball
Bussan struck out six batters and pitched the Cubans to a 13–3 win over Darlington on Tuesday, April 19, and then went 4-for-4 at the plate with a double, seven runs driven in and two runs scored in a 17–1 win over Platteville on Thursday, April 21.
Jenna James, So., C, Fennimore softball
Fennimore's Jenna James also had a great week at the plate, going 4-for-4 in the Golden Eagles' 9–8 win over Cuba City with a triple, two doubles, four RBI and two runs. She also went 2-for-2 with two doubles and two runs in Monday's 12-9 loss to Darlington. James also drove in a pair of runs in last Tuesday's 4–3 win over Wisconsin Heights, and went 4-for-4 with a homer, three RBI and four runs scored in an 11–1 win at Wauzeka–Steuben Tuesday night. James is hitting a sizzling .750 (15-for-20) with eight doubles, one homer and nine RBI through seven games this year.
Noah Kirsch, Sr. Lancaster golf
Kirsch, the reigning WIAA Division 3 individual state champion is well on his way to winning a third Southwest Wisconsin Conference Player of the Year award. Kirsch is currently in first place in the SWC standings after opening the league season with 1-under-par 35 on his home course to win the Lancaster SWC meet, last Tuesday, April 19, then posted a 1-under-par 35 to win medalist honors again and lead the Flying Arrows to another team win at the Prairie du Chien SWC meet last Thursday April 21.
Preston Steiner, Jr., P/OF, Potosi/Cassville baseball
Steiner struck out seven and walked just one en route a 91-pitch no-hitter at River Ridge last Thursday night in a 10–1 win. Ridge scored its lone run in the bottom of the first when Carter Copsey reached on an error and later scored on a wild pitch. Steiner then went 1-for-3 with two walks, a double and two RBI while playing centerfield in Tuesday's 14–8 win over Highland.
Summer Rogers, Fr., Cuba City softball
Rogers had a couple of big games at the plate for the Cubans last week. She went 3-for-4 with a RBI and a run scored in a 5-4 win at Southwestern on Tuesday, April 19, and then hit for the cycle in a 9-8 loss at Fennimore on Thursday, April 21, finishing 4-for-4 at the plate with four RBI and two runs scored. She doubled and scored in the first inning, bashed a solo home run in the third inning, singled in two runs in the fourth inning and tripled in a run in the sixth inning.
Carter Vesperman, Sr., Lancaster boys track and field
Vesperman cleared 13'6" the top individual height, and teamed with sophomore Jackson Van Natta (10'0") to win the boys pole vault relay at last Saturday's Platteville Relays. Vesperman is now just three inches away from Lancaster's school record in the pole vault.