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!
Sep Mattera (Plains pitcher) The Plains sophomore woke up Saturday morning knowing that he was about to pitch against one of the best throwers in the state. Mattera went out and stole the show, throwing seven shutout innings against Auburn and Tristan Weaver, scattered four hits while striking out six in the Cardinals’ 1-0 win. He can swing the bat too, on Thursday, Mattera went 5 for 6 at the dish against Illini Central.
Aly Goff (Springfield track) The Springfield High Senators girls track team has won the CS8 meet in Goff’s sophomore, junior and now senior seasons on the track. She went out in her final conference meet of her high school career and won the 800 in a time of 2:18.62, won the 1600 in a time of 5:26.44 and was the second leg of Springfield’s 4×400 meter relay team that also took first place.
Renee Abernathy (SHG softball) After storming through Springfield High in the City Series on Tuesday and Wednesday, Renee Abernathy didn’t slow down against QND the next day. The sophomore Cyclone standout hit two dingers and a RBI double, moving her home run total in her last three games to five.
Ethan Klay (Springfield baseball) We’ve all seen the incredible throws on Sportscenter from guys like Dodger’s outfielder Yasiel Puig, but how often do we see it in a high school game? It’s a rarity. The Senators’ right fielder and relief pitcher showed off the canon against SHG at City on Wednesday, gunning down Cal Elvers at the plate on a rope that you have to see to believe. Klay had quite the week too, pitching in relief on Tuesday against SHG and then on Saturday at Riverton he picked up the win on the mound as the Senators pulled out an extra innings victory.
Heath Warren (Springfield track) The term special gets tossed around quite a bit in sports these days, but it will be awhile before there’s another runner at Springfield High quite like Heath Warren. The Senators senior who’s headed to run at Oklahoma next year put on quite a show at his last City meet making sure Springfield won their eighth straight City title. Warren won the 800 for the fourth time in his career, he set a new City record in the mile with a time of 4:17.48, beating a 29 year old record, and then anchored the 4×400 meter relay team that finished first to wrap up the City title over Lanphier.
Austin Chapman (SHG pitcher) Prime Time Performer isn’t always simply about the numbers and Chapman is a perfect example of that this week. The Cyclones junior starting pitcher easily could have gotten rattled after giving up three hits on his first three pitches against the Senators to start City. Instead, Chapman settled in and gave SHG just enough of a chance to hand Springfield High their first conference loss of the season. Chapman gave up three runs and scattered ten hits in SHG’s huge win over Springfield to allow them to split and likely win at least a share of yet another City title.
Payton Long (Williamsville softball) It seems like there’s a Williamsville softball pitcher on Prime Time Performer every week, whether it’s sophomore Olivia Felts or Long. This week it’s Long who gets the nod after two shutout, nine run victories over Sangamo foes. On Monday, Long dominated Auburn and on Wednesday, she shut down Pleasant Plains.
Justin Beggs (Williamsville baseball) Everyone knows the regular characters for the Williamsville baseball team that has been rolling through the Sangamo this season like John Beal, Vince Vignali, Cody Womack…the list goes on. But Beggs came up big this last week, hitting a two run double in the fifth inning off Tristan Weaver in the Bullet’s close win and then Beggs had four hits on Saturday in a doubleheader at Southeast, including three runs batted in.
Kahlil Wassell (New Berlin track) If you’re tired of seeing Wassell’s name on our list, you obviously haven’t watched him race. Last week in two meets we saw him win the 100, 200 and 400 both times. His races with Connor Icenogle have come down to photo finishes with Wassell winning by a hair. Wassell took home first in the 100, 200 & 400 at the Sangamo track meet and the Sangamon County track meet last week, while anchoring the Pretzels’ 4×100 relay team as well.
Sydney Paulauskis (Glenwood softball) Regardless of opponent, pitching a no hitter in high school is hard to do. Paulauskis threw a no hitter for the Titans in their 16 run lead over Eisenhower. You pitch a no-hitter, you get a PTP nod, now let’s see if Glenwood can make a postseason run with Paulauskis.
Devon Roach (PORTA baseball) Speaking of no hitters, how about one on the baseball diamond? The Bluejays hurler tossed a near perfect game against Hartsburg-Emden last week. Roach walked just one batter, but he struck out 13 and didn’t allow a hit in PORTA’s 17-0 win.
