Saratoga baseball player Lucas Dennis has been named the Bay Area News Group’s boys high school athlete of the week for April 3-8 after he had 49.81% of the vote at the 5 p.m. deadline Wednesday.

Antioch baseball player Cristian Bajjalieha (38.72%) finished second and Los Gatos baseball player Donovan Freed placed third.

Congratulations to all the candidates for this week’s recognition.

Dennis, a senior pitcher bound for Pomona-Pitzer, threw a perfect game, retiring all 21 batters as Saratoga won at home over Lynbrook 4-0. Dennis struck out seven and also went 2 for 2 with a triple, two RBIs and a walk. Last season, he pitched back-to-back no-hitters.

To nominate an athlete for next week’s poll, email highschools@bayareanewsgroup.com by Monday, April 17, at 11 a.m. Please include stats and team results.

We also review stats submitted to MaxPreps.com by coaches/team statisticians for consideration.

Winners are announced each Friday on the Mercury News & East Bay Times websites and, starting Sept. 30, in the print edition of the Mercury News and EB Times sports sections.

Past winners

Mar. 27-April 1: Josiah Rodriguez, Serra baseball 

March 20-25: Cyrus Ahmad, Washington-Fremont tennis

March 13-18: Derek Hoffmann, Monte Vista lacrosse

March 6-11: Christian Preciado and Michael Castaneda

Feb. 26-March 4: Amani Johnson, Salesian basketball

Feb. 20-25: Parker Lunn, Mountain View soccer

Feb. 13-18: Daniel Schembri, Sequoia soccer

Feb. 6-11: Bryce Luna, St. Francis wrestling

Jan. 30-Feb. 4: Nathan Yousif, Silver Creek soccer

Jan. 23-28: Joseph Bangalan, Piedmont Hills basketball

Jan. 16-21: James Wong, Benicia basketball

Jan. 9-14: Tyler Suzuki, Leigh basketball

Jan. 2-7: Rudy Cruz, Hayward soccer

Dec. 12-17: Nicholas Ruiz, Benicia soccer

Dec. 5-10: Eli Roth, Acalanes soccer

Nov. 28-Dec. 3: Austin Shelton, San Ramon Valley football

Nov. 21-26: Jae’Von Reels, Bellarmine football

Nov. 14-19: Dashiell Weaver, Campolindo football

Nov. 7-12: Nate Bell, Liberty football

Oct. 31-Nov. 5: Angel Barraza, Dublin football

Oct. 24-29: Zachariah Norton, Hayward football

Oct. 17-22: Shane Timmons, Saratoga football

Oct 10-15: Owen Neitzel, Leigh water polo

Oct. 3-8: Salvador Espinoza, Lincoln-San Jose football

Sept. 26-Oct. 1: Antonio Arenas, El Camino football

Sept. 19-24: Nic Austen, College Park water polo

Sept. 12-17: John Ben Pau Mendoza, San Ramon Valley football

Sept. 5-10: Luke Baker, San Ramon Valley football

Aug. 28-Sept. 3: Luke Llabres, Willow Glen water polo

Aug. 22-27: Mikhail Popov, College Park water polo

Source: www.mercurynews.com