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 May 26-31.
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.
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:
Kaycie Burdick, Foothill softball: The Washington commit went 5 for 5 with a pair of triples, a home run and six RBIs as Foothill beat Livermore 16-13 to advance to the CIF NorCal regional playoffs.
Amaya DeFlorimonte, Bishop O’Dowd track and field: The junior took eighth in the triple jump at the CIF state meet in Clovis, recording a mark of 38 feet, 1 inch.
Bianka Fisher, St. Francis softball: The freshman junior varsity call-up entered in the sixth inning, stranded an inherited runner and pitched three scoreless innings to close out a 9-6 extra-inning win over Willow Glen in the CCS Open Division championship game.
Kira Gant Hatcher, St. Mary’s-Berkeley track and field: Gant Hatcher earned a gold medal in the triple jump at the state meet, finishing with a mark of 40 feet, 5 inches. Gant Hatcher shared the top of the podium with Jurupa Valley’s AB Hernandez, an openly transgender athlete who jumped 42 feet, 2 3/4 inches.
Maya Ifo-Desai, Archbishop Mitty track and field: Ifo-Desai placed second in the girls discus with a throw of 154 feet, 3 inches at the CIF state meet in Clovis, winning the statewide silver medal.
Lelani Laruelle, Monta Vista track and field: Laruelle cleared 5-7 to win the high jump at the state meet in a tie for first place with Hernandez and Long Beach Wilson’s Jillene Wetteland.
Katia Nesper, King’s Academy softball: Nesper had a week to remember for TKA, pitching back-to-back shutouts in the CCS Division I tournament as the Knights finished off a championship run. She gave up two hits and struck out 18 in a 3-0 semifinal win over Live Oak, then again gave up a pair of hits and struck out 12 in the Knights’ championship game win over Gilroy. She added two hits and a pair of RBIs at the plate against Live Oak.
Hailey Powers, Alhambra softball: Powers hit the game-winning walk-off home run in Alhambra’s 7-6 win over San Leandro in the NCS Division III championship game on Saturday. It was the first home run of her high school career. Overall, she went 3 for 5 in the game with two walks, two runs scored and two stolen bases. She also had a hit, scored a run and drew a walk in Alhambra’s 12-1 semifinal win over Freedom.
Hannah Rutherford, Mountain View track and field: Rutherford placed second in the 400 meters at the CIF meet, clocking a time of 54.27 to secure the silver medal.
Marina Sacrey, San Leandro softball: Sacrey pitched two complete games in the NCS Division III tournament, striking out 10 hitters. At the plate, she went 4 for 7 with two walks and four RBIs, including a 3 for 3 showing in the championship game against Alhambra.
Kate Skinner, Liberty softball: Skinner allowed one run across two complete games as Liberty beat San Marin 3-1 and Casa Grande 4-0 to win the NCS Division I championship. The Illinois State commit had 24 strikeouts across the two games.
Abby Warren, Miramonte softball: Warren was instrumental as Miramonte won its first NCS softball title in school history, beating top seed McKinleyville and two-seed Kennedy-Fremont with no earned runs across 14 innings pitched. She had 17 strikeouts across the two games. Warren added two hits and two walks at the plate.
