Xavier Prep, O’Connor players net athletes of the week

In the final Arizona Republic high school athlete of the week poll sponsored by Diamond Kitchen & Bath, Xavier Prep freshman softball player Angie Falls and Sandra Day O’Connor senior baseball player Brody Jacobs have been chosen.

As a reminder, this year’s Arizona High School Sports Awards, presented by Diamond Kitchen & Bath, will be held June 17 at Arizona Financial Theatre to honor the players and coaches of the year, as well as several specialty awards, as selected by The Arizona Republic in all AIA sanctioned sports for the 2023-24 school year.

Falls was nominated after she struck out 11 in a complete-game effort against

Queen Creek in the 6A state championship game, forcing a fly out in the bottom of the 7th inning with the bases loaded to win the title 3-2.

Also nominated were Scottsdale Desert Mountain junior softball player Cyan De Luigi, who scored the opening run of the 5A state championship game against Waddell Canyon View, using heads-up base running to score on an infield single in the bottom of the 4th inning as the Wolves beat the Jaguars 3-1 for their second consecutive title; and Waddell Canyon View softball player Sadie Kirk, who had a stand-up double to tie the game at 1-1 in the top of the 5th inning against Desert Mountain in the 5A state championship game as the Jaguars lost 3-1.

In the boys poll, Jacobs was nominated after Queen Creek rallied to tie the score at 6-6 in the fourth inning of the 6A state championship game, he came on in relief and pitched 41⁄3 scoreless innings, giving up four hits and walking four as the Eagles lost 7-6 in 10 innings.

Also nominated were Queen Creek Casteel senior baseball player Mason Russell, who struck out five while walking one and giving up seven hits in the 5A state championship game for the Colts as they beat Peoria Sunrise Mountain 8-1 for the school’s second straight title; and Scottsdale Saguaro sophomore baseball player Alain GudinoGomez, who, while playing catcher, started the scoring with his 1st-inning single as he went 2 for 3 with one RBI in the 4A state championship game against Oro Valley Canyon del Oro to help lead the Sabercats to a 2-1 win.

Nominees are based on performances in AIA-sanctioned sports. Polls are posted on Monday and voting closes at 6 p.m. on Wednesday.

Results are announced the next day on azcentral.com and in The Arizona Republic on Friday. Nominees are chosen by Republic sports staff, with input from coaches and readers.

Submit a weekly nominee static.azcentral.com/sports/highschools/nominations/).