HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
Boys
Adrian Gonzales, Deer Park
Notable: The righthanded senior pitcher recorded the final two outs in Game 2, then threw 62⁄3 innings of relief in Game 3, holding high-powered Travis to one run on six hits with four strikeouts and no walks on 82 pitches and leading the Deer to a 2-1, eight-inning win that clinched their first regional championship and trip to state in 27 years.
What coach Chris Rupp said: “I’m not surprised by what he did, because he’s done it for us the last two years. He’s been the go-to guy out of the bullpen for us, and so he goes out there and he competes, and he throws strikes and he does it consistently.”
Other nominees
Clay Aguilar, Deer Park: The senior pitcher heldTravis to three hits with seven strikeouts in a 3-0 win in Game 2 of the 6A Region III final.
Sammy Faltine, Travis: The sophomore pitcher/outfielder struck out seven, didn’t allow a run until the seventh and supplied a key triple in a complete-game, 3-2 win in Game 1 of the 6A Region III final.
Marshall Kohring, Brenham: The senior designated hitter sent an RBI sacrifice fly to center field in Game 1 of the 5A Region III final, tying the score at 3 in the fourth, but the Cubs went on to lose 5-3. Jason McDaniel
Girls
Samara Lagway, Willis
Notable: The junior third baseman delivered a key two-run double in the softball state semifinal and a solo homer in the state final en route to being named to the alltournament team.
What coach Stephanie Shelley said: “We had a very good hitting team for the most part. Samara Lagway hit that double (in the state semifinal) and that changed everything.”
Other nominees
Casey Dixon, Willis: The senior struck out 20 in the state semifinal and final combined, giving up three runs in 14 innings. She also had an RBI double in the semifinal.
Erin Edmoundson, Deer Park: The senior went 2-for-3 with two doubles and a run in the state semifinals against Keller.
Maleah Olvera, Deer Park: The junior produced the Deer’s only RBI in the state semifinal, driving in a run with a sacrifice fly.