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 Jason Nihles, The Platteville Journal / Fennimore Times / Boscobel Dial
Maddison Carl, Sr., SS, Platteville softball
Platteville senior shortstop Maddison Carl blasted a three-run homer on a 2–0 pitch in the top of the eighth inning to lift the Hillmen to a dramatic 18–15 victory over Lancaster last Thursday in the Southwest Wisconsin Conference opener for both teams.
Carl's second long ball of the game helped Platteville stave off the host Flying Arrows remarkable comeback from a 15–6 deficit in the top of the sixth inning. Lancaster tied the game with three in the sixth and six in the bottom the seventh, including a game-tying three-run double by Haleigh Bratton-Bennett to send the game to extras and set up Carl's herorics.
Carl also belted a two-run homer into the pine trees over the left field fence in the top of the second to make it 6–1. The senior standout, who was an All-SWAL selection at Cuba City last spring, finished 3-for-6 with seven RBI in the win.
Carl went 3-for-4 with a double and RBI and two runs scored in a 9–1 win over Richland Center Tuesday afternoon. She is hitting .440 (11-for-25) with two doubles, two homers, a team-high 13 RBI and 10 run scored for the Hillmen (3–4, 2–0 SWC).
HONORABLE MENTION (in alphabetical order):
Dawson Cole, Sr., P/3B, Fennimore baseball
Cole struck out 12 of the 20 batters he faced and walked just three in a 74-pitch five-inning no-hitter over Boscobel in the second-game of a SWAL doubleheader Tuesday afternoon. Cole also went 2-for-3 with two RBI in the 11–0 win. Cole went 3-for-4 with a homer, two RBI and three runs scored in the 22–9 game one win for the undefeated Golden Eagles (6–0, 4–0 SWAL).
Leif Fingerson, Sr., Richland Center boys track and field
Fingerson won the long jump (20'0.5"), triple jump (41'10.5") and high jump (5'6") and anchored the winning boys 4x200 relay (140.58) to score 32.5 team points and lead the host Hornets to a second-place team finish at the Richland Center G.R.I.T. Invitational Monday.
Payton Gile, Sr., P, Cuba City softball
Gile outdueled Boscobel senior two-time All-State pitcher and Division 1 Mississippi State recruit Gretta Grassel last Thursday afternoon to lead the Cubans to a 1–0 SWAL victory over the two-time defending conference champion Bulldogs. Gile stuck out eight, walked just one and allowed four hits in the complete game shutout. Gile began the year with a nine-strikeout, four walk no-hitter against Benton/Shullsburg March 24. She then tossed a three-hit five-inning shutout over Southwestern last Monday afternoon in an 11–0 win. Gile surrendered her first run of the season in a 4–1 win over Wisconsin Heights at Saturday's Cuba City Tournament. She then dominated SWAL-contender Iowa–Grant Monday, striking out eight and allowing just one run on one hit and a walk, in an 11–1 win for the Cubans (5–1, 3–0 SWAL).
Grant Herbst, Sr., Platteville golf
Platteville senior Grant Herbst shot a 74 to win medalist honors and lead the Hillmen to a third-place finish at last Saturday's season-opening 16-team Dodge–Point Early Bird Invitational.
Marcus Sponsler, Jr., Platteville boys track and field
Sponsler swept the boys' hurdle events, winning the 110-meter high hurdles in 16.06 seconds the the 300 intermediate hurdles in 44.12 seconds, and also ran a leg on the second-place 4x400 relay to help the Platteville boys win Monday's Richland Center G.R.I.T. Invitational.
Mitchel Wolf, Sr., 2B, Lancaster baseball
Senior infielder Mitchel Wolf has Lancaster off to a 3–0 start to the season, going 8-of-12 at the plate during his first three games this season, with two runs scored and four RBIs. Wolf drove in a pair of runs in last Thursday's 7–3 win over Platteville in the SWC opener for both teams. He also went 4-for-4 with a double and a run scored in last Tuesday's 11–1 win at River Ridge and was 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in last Monday's 9–4 win over Potosi/Cassville.
