Here are this week's candidates for the Antonio's Pizza Prime Time Performer. You can vote once every 12 hours until the polls close on Friday at 5pm. The winner will receive a $20 gift card to Antonio's Pizza!
Bev Watson (Plains soccer) Pleasant Plains scored four second half goals against Williamsville to win their own tournament and get revenge against their rivals and a huge reason why was Watson. She lofted a free kick in for the Cardinals’ first goal, then assisted on the next two goals. She also had the defensive task of trying to slow down the Abu-Tayeh twins before they got to Plains’ defenders and she did an excellent job of slopping through the mud to help get the win for her team.
Ozzy Erewele (Springfield track) We tried to find a reason to put someone else from girls City track in the Prime Time Performer slot but Ozzy stole the show, plain and simple. Not only did she win the 100 and 200 meter races, but she put up incredible performances in the 4×100 and 4×200 relays that had spectators amazed. In the 4×100 meter relay, Erewele had to come back to win and it just so happened that the Senators set a new record with a time of 48.37. The sophomore track star had to make up quite a bit of ground in the 4×200 and she some how did. If you get the chance to see this girl run…do it. She’s worth the price of admission.
Zak Merchant (Riverton pitcher) Riverton threw themselves back into the Sangamo race in a somewhat surprising win over Auburn last week. Zak “Money” Merchant threw a complete game shutout against the Trojans, allowing just four hits and two walks. Riverton only scored one run in the game, but with Merchant on the mound, it didn’t matter.
Michael Lavin (Springfield pitcher) At the top of the Central State Eight baseball standings is still the Springfield High Senators. One of the horses in their stable of pitchers is Michael Lavin and last week he showed how dominant Coach Jim Steinwart’s squad can be. Lavin pitched a five inning shutout, striking out five and giving up just one hit and one walk in the Senators 10-0 win of Lanphier at City. Lavin is 6-0 this season, let’s see if he adds another tally on the left side this week against the Cyclones at City.
Ashton Dyche (SHG softball) Look up the definition of softball power hitter in the dictionary and there’s a picture of Ashton Dyche next to the article. The Cyclone first baseman cranked a grand slam clear over the softball fence on Wednesday against Southeast. That was quite the encore from Monday afternoon when she tried to take out the scoreboard at Jane Grebner Field in Williamsville, blasting a three run shot off the purple and gold board on her way to a four RBI day as SHG beat the Bullets 6-2.
Taylor Page (Tri-City softball) It’s not too often we see a freshman on Prime Time Performer, but when we do, it’s for a reason. Page put herself on the list this week with a walk off RBI single in the tenth inning to help the Tornadoes beat Pleasant Plains in a 1-0 ballgame. Page’s single scored Aubrey Hunt to win the game and finally get Payton Sturdy off the mound after she’d given up just one hit to the Cardinals in ten innings of work.
John Beal (Williamsville pitcher) The Bullets are still unbeaten in Sangamo play and their ace continues to deal. John Beal threw just 77 pitches in seven innings of work and it was enough to get him the win. Williamsville beat Riverton 2-0 and Beal gave up just five hits, while walking none and preserving the shutout against the Hawks. The Bullets get Auburn and Plains this week, let’s see what Beal does to follow up his performance against Riverton.
Katie Collins (Springfield soccer) We haven’t seen the Senators in action for awhile because they’re busy traveling out of state to get themselves in shape for the rest of the CS8 season. Don’t look now, but they only have one conference loss and that was to Rochester early in the year. Last week Springfield traveled up to the Burlington Tournament of Champions in Iowa and Katie Collins cashed in. She scored a goal and had two assists in the Senators’ 4-1 win over Ozark and then scored one and had another assists in Springfield High’s 3-2 win over West Des Moines Valley. We’re certainly ready to see Collins and the Senators take on the Cyclones on Tuesday night in CS8 play.
