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
Anthony Massa, Jr., 3B, UW–Platteville baseball
WHITEWATER — The UW–Platteville baseball team concluded three games against UW–Oshkosh Monday, April 13 from Prucha Field in Whitewater.
The Titans held on for a 10–9 win in the resumed contest to begin the day, and the Pioneers (16–13, 7–11 WIAC) bounced back with a 12–1 win in game two. The final game went to Oshkosh 12–6.
Platteville jumped out to a 10–0 lead after the first two innings, which started with a two-run home run by Massa in the bottom of the opening inning. That homer was Massa’s 12th of the season, which sets a new Pioneers program record.
Massa then belted his 13th long ball of the season in a game one loss to host UW–Whitewater Saturday. He finished the four-game weekend series against the Warhawks 4-for-14 with one homer, three RBI and three runs scored.
He then went 4-for-8 and belted home run No. 14 in a WIAC double at UW–La Crosse Wednesday afternoon.
Massa is currently batting .427 (56 of 131) with 12 doubles, 14 homers, 53 RBI, a .840 slugging percentage and 40 runs scored through 31 games played this year.
HONORABLE MENTION (in alphabetical order):
Damian Bauer, Sr., P, Potosi/Cassville baseball
Bauer struck out 10 and twirled a two-hit shutout without issuing a walk to lead Potosi/Cassville to a dominating 8–0 win over visiting Argyle/Black Hawk Monday afternoon.
Brielle Fishnick, Sr., sprints, jumps, Cassville/Potosi girls track and field
Fishnick led the host Cassville/Potosi girls to the team title at their own 10-team invitational on a sunny 75-degree day last Thursday, claiming gold medals in the girls 100-meter dash (13.17 seconds), long jump (15’4”), triple jump (33’5”) and the 4x100 relay (54.36), along with senior Iris Adams, freshman Grace Eastlick and sophomore Irelyn Walsh.
Cole Herbst, Jr., Platteville boys golf
Two-time SWC Player of the Year Cole Herbst shot a 1-under par 71 at the Prairie du Chien Country Club to win medalist honors by five strokes over freshman teammate Hudson Weittenhiller (76) last Thursday afternoon. Herst and Weittenhiller's 1–2 finish led the Hillmen to a 13-stroke victory at Thursday’s 18-hole Prairie du Chien SWC meet to open conference play.
Wyatt Temperly, So., P, Belmont baseball
The Temperly-led Braves scored 13 unanswered runs to beat Highland 13–3 via the mercy rule after six innings last Thursday night. The sophomore relieved Boone Havens in the top of the second inning and allowed just one hit and two walks, while pairing 10 strikeouts over 52/3 innings pitched to earn the win. Temperly also led the offense, going 3-for-3 with a pair of RBI.
Aiden Weigel, Jr., SS, Platteville baseball
Weigel had a monster game out of the nine hole in the lineup, going 3-for-3 with four RBI and a run scored to lead the undefeated Hillmen (5–0, 3–0 SWC) to a 7–6 win over visiting River Valley last Thursday night. His two-out, two run single in the bottom of the second gave the home team a 3–0 lead. Weigel then drove in a run and score a run in Tuesday's 13–3 rout of Lancaster (4–1, 1–1).
