NEW: PREP SPORTS MAILBAG
The Bay Area News Group is introducing a high school sports mailbag in May. Get your questions in as soon as possible. Our debut edition is an open forum. Got questions about spring sports playoffs, coaching changes, an early peek at football season, etc.? Send questions to highschools@bayareanewsgroup.com. Please include “mailbag” in the subject line.
Wilcox softball player Justine Valdivia is the Bay Area News Group’s high school girls athlete of the week for May 8-13 after she received 50.13% of the vote at the 5 p.m. deadline Wednesday.
Sobrato softball player Sofia Ferrante (18.68%) placed second and Mountain View gymnast Alyssa Ong was third.
Congratulations to all the candidates for this week’s recognition.
Valdivia, a senior, pitched six and a third innings against Los Altos on Tuesday, and then threw nine innings and walked just one batter against a ranked Milpitas team. Valdivia also went 2 for 4 with an RBI against Milpitas, her second multi-hit game of the season.
To nominate an athlete for next week’s poll, email highschools@bayareanewsgroup.com by Monday, May 22, 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
May 1-6: Kelsey Zhang, Saratoga swimming
April 24-29: Laila Wang, Archbishop Mitty badminton
April 17-22: Annelise Burgos, Mt. Eden softball
April 10-15: Gianna Tassio, Terra Nova softball
April 3-8: Aleena Helms, Amador Valley softball
March 27-April 1: Jasmine Whorely, Alameda softball
March 20-25: Sami Bianchi, Wilcox softball
March 13-18: Camryn Manning-Alarcon, Leigh softball
March 6-11: Jenna Balousek and Morgan Overton
Feb. 26-March 4: Ruiqi Liu, Menlo School basketball
Feb. 20-25: Michelle Tang, Mills basketball
Feb. 13-18: Mikayla Garcia, James Logan wrestling
Feb. 6-11: Alli Dioli, Half Moon Bay basketball
Jan. 30 to Feb. 4: Quinn Godfrey, Branham basketball
Jan. 13-28: India Bowles, Archbishop Riordan soccer
Jan. 16-21: Priscilla Quihuiz, San Jose soccer
Jan. 9-14: Trinity Chu, California basketball
Jan. 2-7: Tali Fa’i, Newark Memorial basketball
Dec. 12-17: Deanna Luna, James Lick soccer
Dec. 5-10: Sofia Bowes, San Ramon Valley basketball
Nov. 28 to Dec. 3: Kendall McClure, Heritage basketball
Nov. 21-26: Soo-Jin Berry, Clayton Valley Charter basketball
Nov. 14-19: Rachel Stephens, Los Gatos water polo
Nov. 7-12: Raquel Calderon, Mercy-Burlingame volleyball
Source: www.mercurynews.com