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

By Jason Nihles, The Platteville Journal, Fennimore Times, Boscobel Dial

Mikala Schnering, So., SS, Platteville softball
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN — Sophomore shortstop Mikala Schnering had the best game of her young career against Highland, going 5-for-5 with the eventual game-winning home run in the bottom of the sixth inning, three RBI and four stolen bases in a wild 14–13 victory over Highland last Saturday at the Prairie du Chien Jamboree.

Schnering was named first-team All-SWC a year ago when she hit .364 (24-for-66) with 17 runs and a school record 23 stolen bases in 20 games as a freshman.

Seniors Jaxcyn Berntgen (2x5), Emma Graney (2x5), Kennedy Shea (2x4), Maria Schmitt (2x4), juniors Maggie Grabandt (2x4) and Lainee Pickel, Ryleigh Hintz all had multiple hits for the winners.

“I made an adjustment to the lineup, moved a few players around,” said Platteville head coach Vince Graney. “It seemed to help with our offense. We had 20 hits, a couple of doubles and a home run.”

Platteville built an 8–1 lead through four innings before needing a six-run sixth inning to pull of a major comeback. Schnering singled, stole second and scored on an RBI ground out by Berntgen in the bottom of the first. Schnering singled to lead off the bottom of the third, stole second and scored on an RBI single by Berntgen. 

Junior Gabby Key reached on an error later in the inning and scored when Shea reached on an error to make it 4–1. Schnering hit a two-run single to right field, stole second  and later scored on a RBI single by Graney in the fourth. She also scored on an RBI ground out by Berntgen to make it 7–1.

Sophomore Mia Huser replaced Shea in the pitcher’s circle early in the top of the fifth inning, after Shea suffered a minor injury. Highland took full advantage of the pitching change.

The Cardinals cut the lead to 8–5 against Huser, then after Shea was able to return to the pitcher’s circle, eventually tied the game at 8–8 on a bases-clearing three-run single by Sumaryn Halverson. Highland scored three in the top of the sixth to take an 11–8 lead on a two-run double by Celia Oleson and an RBI double by Cora Healy-Dougherty. 

After blowing a seven-run lead in just two quick innings, the Platteville bats went back to work against Highland starter Kate Tarrell. Berntgen and Key began Platteville’s game-winning rally with back-to-back singles, before a fielder’s choice ground out by Shea. Grabandt followed with an RBI single up the middle to scored Key from second base.

Pickel singled through the right side to make it a one-run game, then after a pop out to shortstop, Schmitt gave Platteville a 12–11 lead with a two-out, two-run single to centerfield. Schnering was up next, and kept her magnificent day going with a two-run blast over the left field fence for two key insurance runs.

“It was great to see the team rally in the sixth,” added Graney. “It was a nice win.”

Schnering finished the week batting .556 (10-for-18) with seven runs scored and five stolen bases in five games over the past week.

HONORABLE MENTION (in alphabetical order):
Kyree Fisher, Fr., P, Richland Center
Fisher struck out 16 batters in a five-hit shutout to lead the Hornets to a 5–0 victory over River Valley in Tuesday's home opener. This was Richland Center's first win over River Valley since May 8, 2012.

Payton Gile, Sr., P, Cuba City softball
Gile struck out 12 in a five-inning perfect game, and went 2-for-4 at the plate to lead Cuba City (7–2, 3–0 SWAL) to a 17–0 win over winless Darlington (0–8, 0–4 SWAL) last Thursday afternoon. This past Monday, Gile drove in the game-winning run with an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning, and struck out 13 and allowed just one run on two hits and three walks in a key 2–1 SWAL victory over Iowa–Grant (5–2, 3–1) in a battle for first place. 

Brock Henkel, Sr., OF, Fennimore baseball
Fennimore's senior cleanup hitter went 5-for-12 in Fennimore's last three games with a three-run home run in Monday's 16–12 win over Lancaster, and a 3-for-5, two double, three RBI day in Tuesday's 10–6 SWAL win at reigning SWAL champion Riverdale. Henkel had 7 RBI, three runs scored and two walks in the three wins.

Klaeton Hendricks, Jr., P, Southwestern baseball
Hendricks struck out 11 batters and allowed just one unearned run on two hits in a 7–1 victory over Riverdale last Tuesday, April 8. Hendricks also went 2-for-3 win the win. The junior hurler opened the season with a 12-strikeouts in five no-hit innings in a 10–0 six-inning win over Argyle Thursday, April 3. 

Ethan Sheckler, Sr., C/P, Fennimore baseball
Sheckler struck out 15 batters and allowed just two hits in five shutout innings to lead undefeated Fennimore (5–0) to a 7–0 victory at River Ridge last Thursday afternoon. Sheckler also went 1-for-3 with a walk in the win. This past Monday, Sheckler went 1-for-4 with an RBI double and two walks in the Eagles' 16–12 comeback win at Lancaster. A day later he went 4-for-4 with a booming triple in a 10–6 SWAL win at reigning SWAL champion Riverdale. Sheckler went 7-for-15 (.467) with three walks and an RBI.

Jarren Weahkee, Jr., C, Boscobel baseball
Junior Jarren Weahkee became the first player to homer on Boscobel's new field when he smashed a grand slam over the left centerfield fence in the bottom of the third inning to propel the host Bulldogs to a 16–4 comeback win over Richland Center in the first game played at Boscobel's new baseball field. Weahkee's blast gave the Bulldogs a 5–4 lead and wiped out the Hornets' early 4–1 advantage in one swing of the bat. Weahkee finished the game 2-for-3 with six RBI and two runs scored to lead the Bulldogs to a 16–4 comeback win over Richland Center. “I told the boys before we batted in the fourth, ‘let’s try to get one run back here chip away to get back into this game,’” said Marks. “Then, we had a walk and a couple of hit batters, and Jarren came through with a nice deep fly for the grand slam. That flipped everything 180 degrees for us. The hitting became contagious and everyone wanted in on.”