Editor’s note: We prohibit the use of bots and any other artificial methods of voting. Suspicious activity could lead to the disqualification of candidates and a permanent suspension of the Athlete of the Week poll. No voting by email: Votes by email and after 5 p.m. Wednesday are not counted.
Welcome to the Bay Area News Group (Mercury News & East Bay Times) girls Athlete of the Week poll.
For the entire academic year, we will provide a list of candidates who stood out over the previous week and allow you, the reader, to vote for the winner.
This week, we consider performances from April 21-26.
Polls close at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Vote as many times as you’d like until then without using bots or any other artificial methods of voting.
Votes by email and after 5 p.m. Wednesday are not counted.
Scroll to the bottom for the poll.
Winners are announced each Friday online and in the print edition of the Mercury News and East Bay Times sports sections.
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Candidates for future Athlete of the Week polls can be nominated at [email protected].
We accept nominations until 11 a.m. each Monday.
We also review stats submitted to MaxPreps by coaches/team statisticians.
On to the nominees:
Jewel Cooper, Liberty softball: Cooper had three hits, four RBIs, a double and a home run for Liberty in a 17-1 win over Deer Valley. The sophomore also scored a run in a 8-0 win over Monterey Trail.
Lucy Esquivel, Mills softball: Esquivel led the charge with a homer, double, five RBIs and three runs scored as Mills beat Terra Nova 18-3. The sophomore had two hits and four RBIs in a 16-1 win over Menlo-Atherton and added a pair of hits and one more RBI in an 8-1 win over St. Ignatius.
Star Gutierrez, Capuchino softball: The freshman star hit a three-run home run and stole a base in an 11-1 win over Woodside. She added four RBIs on three hits, including a triple and homer, in a 7-1 win over Inderkum, and three RBIs in a 10-0 win over King’s Academy.
Lola Jones, Hillsdale softball: Jones struck out 10 hitters and gave up just three hits to lead Hillsdale to a 6-0 win over Aragon. She also knocked in two runs on an RBI single in the fifth inning. She added another shutout in a 2-0 win over Carlmont, allowing four hits and striking out seven batters against two walks.
Julia Lambert, Alameda softball: Lambert allowed only one hit and struck out 11 hitters in a 3-0 nonleague win over Arroyo. She had two hits of her own in a 7-3 win over Mt. Eden, also driving in a run at the dish. The sophomore pitched five no-hit innings against Mt. Eden as well, striking out 10.
Ella Lewis, Design Tech softball: The junior went 2 for 2 against Luis Valdez Leadership Academy on Monday, 6 for 6 against El Primero on Wednesday while hitting for the cycle and 4 for 4 against KIPP San Jose on Friday. Overall, she had 14 RBI for the week. Lewis also pitched four innings in relief and got the win against El Primero, giving up two earned runs. On Friday she got the win pitching a complete seven inning game against KIPP San Jose, giving up three earned runs.
Jaime Oakland, St. Francis softball: Oakland had a two-run single and went 3 for 5 overall in St. Francis’ 10-3 win over Gilroy on Tuesday. She added two hits and two RBIs in a 12-2 win over Los Gatos. The junior is hitting .642 this season.
Naliyah Orozco, James Logan softball: The freshman knocked in five runs with a homer and double as Logan played a tight extra-inning game against Amador Valley. She added an RBI in a loss to Granada.
Alanys Robertson, Castro Valley softball: The sophomore pitched a two-hitter, homered and drove in three runs as Castro Valley beat San Leandro 11-0. She added a hit and three runs scored in a 24-0 win over Mt. Eden.
Gianna Willes, Livermore softball: Willes led Livermore as she went 3 for 4 with two RBIs and a home run as the Cowboys beat Carondelet 9-8. The sophomore got on base twice more via hit by pitch. She added a single in a loss to California.
