Vote now: Who should be the Rockford Register Star's Athlete of the Week for April 22-27?
The spring sports seasons are sprinting down the backstretch now, with postseasons approaching fast, and the stars really stepping up their games. Here is your chance to vote for the Rockford Register Star High School Athlete of the Week for April 22-27.
The voting at rrstar.com ends at noon on Friday. You can email Jay Taft at jtaft@rrstar.com by 9 a.m. each Monday to submit a potential nominee who can be placed on the ballot.
Zariah Burnett, Guilford track and field
Burnett, who placed fourth at outdoor state last year and then won the indoor state title earlier this season in the high jump, cleared the bar set at 5-foot-7 last Thursday, her best-ever clearance outside. That was the fourth-best clearance in the state of Illinois for girls track and field this year and in the top 50 in the nation. She then went out and soared 18-4 1/2 in the long jump on Saturday, setting a new school record. The girls NIC-10 track and field meet is Thursday at Guilford.
More area track and field: Between Guilford and Hononegah, Rockford area home to some of Illinois' best high jumpers
Nolan Hahn, Polo baseball
Hahn, a senior pitcher/third baseman led Polo to an 8-5 upset of Eastland both at the plate and on the mound. He had four hits, scoring two runs and driving in one. He earned the win as a pitcher, striking out eight, walking one, allowing seven hits and giving up three runs in five innings for Polo (5-11, 3-5 NUIC South). Forreston dropped to 9-7-1 (3-2-1).
Jonathon Hartline, Durand/Pecatonica baseball
Hartline, a senior catcher, had five RBIs as Du/Pec handed Lena-Winslow (12-5, 4-1) its first NUIC North defeat. Hartline was 2-for-4 with a triple and also scored a run in the 14-7 victory that kept Du/Pec (10-6, 4-2) in the title race.
Olivia Paul, Oregon softball
Paul's 3-run homer in the fifth inning last Tuesday broke the game wide open as Oregon knocked off Dixon 12-3 in a key Big Northern Conference softball game. Paul had four hits and five RBIs in the game.
Gracen Pitts, Oregon softball
Pitts smashed three home runs in Oregon's doubleheader sweep of Lutheran last Thursday, helping Oregon pound out 30 hits and win its fifth and sixth game in a row. Pitts had eight RBIs on the day as Oregon won 16-5 and 18-4.
Lola Robertson, Durand/Pecatonica track and field
Robertson cleared 5-1 to win the high jump at the Du/Pec Invitational last Thursday and she soared just over 32 feet to take second in the triple jump. The freshmen then went out and placed the same in both events at Saturday's East Relays.
Jake Schumacher, Dakota track and field
Schumacher, one of the premiere hurdlers in the area, ran a 41.44 in the 300-meter hurdles last Wednesday at a home meet, clocking the eighth-fastest time in the state in Class 1A this outdoor season. Schumacher also has the 14th fastest time in the 110 high hurdles.
Jack Washburn, Winnebago baseball
Washburn went 2-for-3 against Rockford Christian on Tuesday, but his two hits were a triple and a home run. He had three RBIs and also turned an unassisted double play as Oregon won 15-5 to complete the series sweep. Washburn also had a double and went 1-for-2 on Saturday.
Cheyenna Wilkins, Polo softball
Wilkins has been on a tear, and last week she did it at the plate and on the hill. She struck out 11 and gave up just three hits in Polo's 15-4 win over Eastland last Thursday, and she was 2-for-3 with an RBI at the plate as well. Polo had lost six of eight before splitting the doubleheader with Eastland last week.
Jay Taft is a Rockford Register Star sports reporter. Email him at jtaft@rrstar.com and follow him on Twitter at @JayTaft. Sign up for the Rockford High School newsletter at rrstar.com. Jay has covered a wide variety of sports, from the Chicago Bears to youth sports, since the turn of the century at the Register Star, and for over 30 years all together.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Vote for the Rockford area's Athlete of the Week for April 22-27
