GRAND RAPIDS, MI – April is in the rearview mirror, and that means Michigan’s first set of high school spring sports playoffs are just around the corner, with boys lacrosse pre-regionals kicking off the postseason on May 10.
Some teams are already performing at a tournament level, and with that in mind, we’re taking a look at the local athletes that spent last week excelling on the diamond, the pitch, the court and the track for our fourth installment of the Grand Rapids-area Athlete of the Week series.
Among those that stood out between April 29-May 4 were an East Kentwood baseball player with three home runs, a Hudsonville softball pitcher that threw another no-hitter and a South Christian baseball pitcher that also tossed a no-no.
Follow along to see who else made the cut and cast your vote for the athlete that impressed the most.
Readers have unlimited voting until 9 a.m. Friday, May 10, and we’ll publish the winner later that day. Voting has no bearing on postseason honors, such as the all-conference or all-state teams.
The Athlete of the Week series will continue throughout the spring sports season, and to nominate a standout performer, you can email Patrick Nothaft at pnothaft@mlive.com with that athlete’s stats and recent accomplishments.
If the poll does not appear at the bottom of the story, click here to view it.
Selma Anderson, Ottawa Hills girls track
The senior runner and Syracuse University signee returned to high school competition for the first time since early April and won four of her five races, including first-place finishes in the 800-meter run and 1,600 run at the Red Hawk Invite. Anderson’s time of 4:57.06 in the latter event is currently ninth in Division 1.
Corbin Bennetts, Jenison baseball
The senior leadoff hitter sparked a strong week for the 11th-ranked Wildcats, as combined to go 6 for 13 at the plate with a triple, three RBIs and two runs scored during a tough stretch that saw Jenison take 2 of 3 from Hudsonville and sweep Lowell in a doubleheader. Bennetts also pitched one scoreless inning of relief to earn a save in a 1-0 win over Hudsonville.
Anthony Bouwhuis, Rockford boys track
The senior sprinter opened last week by running a personal best of 21.91 seconds in the 200-meter dash at Monday’s OK Red meet against West Ottawa, then logged his first time under 11 seconds in the 100 dash with a winning time of 10.88 seconds in Wednesday’s dual against East Kentwood. Bouwhuis also placed first three times in the 400 relay and twice in the 800 relay, with the relay team’s best times in each event ranking inside the top three in Division 1.
Alana Bracey, East Kentwood girls track
The sophomore standout won eight of her nine races last week, including first-place finishes in the 100-meter hurdles and the 800 relay at the Ken Bell Invitational. Bracey also set a personal best at a dual meet against Rockford in the 300 hurdles with a time of 45.06 seconds, which ranks fourth in Division 1.
Alexa Brott, Zeeland West softball
Zeeland West’s career strikeouts leader added to her total by fanning 19 in 17 innings last week, while allowing 13 hits, one walk and eight earned runs, which added up to a 2-1 record. Offensively, she also swung a hot bat during the Dux’s 4-2 stretch, going 8 for 19 at the plate with two doubles, a triple, a home run, 10 RBIs and seven runs scored.
Makenzie Cammenga, Unity Christian softball
The junior pitcher led Unity Christian to a 4-2 week against a tough slate of opponents, including Byron Center and Jenison, by going 4-0 from the circle with 33 strikeouts in 15 innings, while allowing five hits, six walks and three earned runs. Offensively, Cammenga went 5 for 14 at the plate with three doubles, four RBIs and eight runs scored to help her cause.
Desmond Chapa, West Ottawa boys track
The senior sprinter won seven of his 10 races last week, including a school-record time of 21.59 seconds in the 200-meter dash, which is currently the state’s top time in Division 1. Chapa also anchored a pair of winning relay teams at the West Ottawa Von Ins Invite, with the Panthers 400 relay time of 41.97 seconds and 800 relay time of 1:27.26 both currently sitting at No. 1 in Michigan across all divisions.
Brody DeKruyter, Holland Christian boys track
The senior runner won all five of his races last week, highlighted by a personal-best time of 50.40 seconds at Saturday’s West Ottawa Von Ins Invite, which currently ranks eighth in Division 2.
Olivia Dolan, Byron Center softball
The sophomore shortstop continued her strong season at the plate by going 10 for 22 last week with four doubles and two home runs, while driving in nine runs and scoring six more herself during the Bulldogs’ 5-1 stretch that included a win over Division 2 No. 4 Unity Christian.
Drew Duthler, Coopersville baseball
The junior slugger led Division 2 No. 6 Coopersville to a 3-2 week by going 8 for 16 at the plate with a double, two home runs, eight RBIs and three runs scored, while also making two appearances on the mound, in which he struck out six in six innings and allowed four hits, three walks and two unearned runs for the 15-5 Broncos.
Reece Emeott, East Kentwood boys track
The sophomore standout logged his sixth, seventh and eighth first-place finish in the pole vault last week, including a personal best of 14 feet, 9 inches at a dual meet against Rockford, which currently stand at the best mark in Division 1.
Jordan Empie, West Catholic softball
The junior pitcher took a trio of hard-luck losses against Holland Christian, Greenville and Cedar Springs in which the Falcons combined for four runs, but she still managed to go 2-3 with a 2.19 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 36 1/3 innings, including a seven-inning shutout with 12 strikeouts in a 6-0 victory over rival GR Catholic Central. Offensively, Empie helped her cause by going 15 for 26 at the plate with two doubles, 10 RBIs and nine runs scored in eight games.
Dalvi Encarnacion, East Kentwood baseball
East Kentwood enjoyed its most successful week of the season, and Encarnacion played a big role in that success for the 3-14 Falcons, as the senior slugger hit three home runs, including a two-run shot in a 4-3 win over Wyoming, while also picking up a win from the mound in a 9-1 victory over the Wolves, in which he struck out 10 and allowed two hits in four scoreless innings.
Kendall Fisk, Cedar Springs softball
The sophomore pitcher led Cedar Springs to a 5-3 record during a busy stretch last week by posting a 5-1 record in the circle with a 0.35 ERA and 66 strikeouts in 39 innings, while also going 10 for 27 at the plate with three doubles, a triple, 11 RBIs and five runs scored.
Elyse Fix, Northview softball
The sophomore slugger led Northview to a 6-2 week by going 13 for 22 at the plate with two doubles, two home runs, 16 RBIs and 13 runs scored for the 13-12 Wildcats.
Drew Galey, Greenville softball
The freshman shortstop helped Greenville go 3-4 against a tough slate of opponents by going 8 for 18 at the plate with two doubles, five RBIs and eight runs scored, while drawing four walks and striking out just once.
Ava Gardner, Hudsonville softball
The junior outfielder and Purdue Fort Wayne commit helped 21-0 Hudsonville win seven more games last week by going 10 for 23 at the plate with three doubles, four RBIs and three runs scored against a tough slate that included state-ranked Jenison, Reeths-Puffer and Grand Haven.
Kayla Harris, East Kentwood girls track
The senior thrower opened the week at Monday’s dual meet against Grand Haven by winning the discus with a personal-best toss of 142 feet, 5 inches and the shot put with another personal best of 42 feet, 6 inches, both of which currently rank third in Division 1. Harris added first-place finishes in both events at Wednesday’s dual against Rockford, before placing second in each at the Ken Bell Invitational.
Keaton Hendricks, Zeeland West boys track
The junior won all four of his hurdling events last week, including a personal-best time of 39.06 seconds in the 300-meter hurdles at the West Ottawa Von Ins Invite, which is currently the eighth fastest time in Division 1.
Kendall Johnson, Sparta girls soccer
The senior midfielder has scored in every game during the Spartans’ current three-game winning streak, including a hat trick in Wednesday’s 4-0 win over Godwin Heights.
Davis Kemper, South Christian baseball
The 6-foot-7 junior shined on the mound and at the plate during last week’s three-game sweep over Cedar Springs, tossing a seven-inning no-hitter with two walks and nine strikeouts in a 1-0 win, while going 6 for 11 at the dish with a double, three RBIs and a run scored.
Kelly Koole, Covenant Christian softball
The senior shortstop led Covenant Christian to a 4-0 week by going 8 for 15 at the plate with four doubles, a triple, six RBIs and six runs scored, including the game-winning RBI double in the seventh inning of a 7-5 victory over Zeeland East.
Brody Leyendecker, Byron Center boys track
The senior runner logged five first-place finishes last week, including personal best times of 23.17 seconds in the 200-meter dash and 49.09 seconds in the 400 dash, the latter of which ranks eighth in Division 1.
Madi Ludema, Wayland softball
Wayland extended its winning streak to 13 games by going 6-0 last week, and Ludema played a big role, as the sophomore slugger went 8 for 14 at the plate with three doubles, two home runs, eight RBIs and nine runs scored, while also throwing 6 2/3 shutout innings with three strikeouts and four hits allowed in a 2-0 victory over Jenison.
Mary McIntire, Rockford softball
The senior shortstop enjoyed a breakout week at the plate, going 8 for 14 with a double, two triples, seven RBIs and nine runs scored, while also fielding her position well by turning two double plays without committing an error.
Claire Mitchell, Lowell softball
After Lowell dropped both games of a doubleheader against Byron Center, Mitchell helped the Red Arrows rebound with two wins against Calvin Christian by delivering a three-run homer to break open a one-run game in the seventh inning of a 7-3 victory. The hard-hitting junior finished the week going 5 for 14 with a double, a dinger, seven RBIs and three runs scored.
Malachi Mosley, East Kentwood boys track
The junior and former state champion in the 400-meter dash set a personal-best time of 47.79 seconds in the event last week, which is currently the state’s third-best time. Mosley also logged a pair of first-place finishes in the 100 dash and 1,600 relay last week for the Falcons, who are No. 2 in Division 1 behind Rockford in the latest MITCA rankings.
Emilee Nowicki, Forest Hills Eastern softball
The junior slugger enjoyed a big week at the plate, going 7 for 14 with two triples, a home run, three RBIs and five runs scored, including a 2 for 3 effort in an otherwise tough offensive night for the Hawks in a 14-0 loss to Wayland.
Jonathan Patten, Grandville baseball
The junior pitcher threw all seven innings in last week’s 4-3 win over Grand Haven, striking out four and allowing three runs on six hits, while also helping his cause by going 2 for 4 with an RBI in that victory. Offensively, Patten combined to go 6 for 14 with three RBIs and one run scored in five games, four of which were decided by one run.
Alex Pranger, NorthPointe Christian
The versatile senior was a three-time winner at Saturday’s Portland Track Invitational, taking first in the 100-meter dash, the 200 dash with a personal-best time of 23.06 seconds and the discus with a personal-best distance of 167 feet, 9 inches, which currently ranks third in Division 3.
Evie Pylman, South Christian softball
The junior outfield led South Christian to a 3-1 week by providing plenty of extra-base power, going 5 for 12 with three doubles and a home run, while driving in two runs and scoring seven more for the 15-6 Sailors.
Jackson Reisbig, Lowell baseball
The senior centerfielder provided some pop at the plate against a tough schedule that included three games against Byron Center and a doubleheader against Jenison, going 8 for 18 with a double, a triple, three RBIs and five runs scored.
Mackenzie Ruimveld, Zeeland East softball
The junior slugger led Zeeland East to a 3-1 week by going 8 for 13 at the plate with two doubles, a triple and a home run, while driving in eight runs and scoring five more.
Syd Ryan, Forest Hills Central girls soccer
The senior midfielder stepped up in an important week for the Division 2 No. 2 Rangers by scoring a goal in Monday’s 5-1 win over Lowell, adding two more, plus an assist, in Wednesday’s 8-0 win over Greenville, then netting the game-winner in Friday’s 1-0 victory over Division 1 No. 3 Portage Central.
Helen Sachs, West Ottawa girls track
The junior distance runner won six of her seven races last week, including a first-place finish in the 3,200-meter run at the prestigious Shepherd Blue Jay Invitational, where her time of 10:20.08 edged her previous personal best by more than six seconds.
Payton Skarda, Rockford baseball
The senior continued his hot streak at the plate by going 5 for 14 with two triples, one RBI and five runs scored in a series sweep of Caledonia and a single-game win over Forest Hills Northern, which boosted Rockford’s record to 21-1-1.
Kierea Smits, Holland Christian softball
The junior pitcher opened last week by striking out 14 and allowing four hits in eight innings of a 1-0 win over West Catholic, then enjoyed another strong start against West Ottawa, in which she struck out 16 in seven innings, while giving up three unearned runs on two hits and two walks. Offensively, she was just as effective during the Maroons’ 4-1 stretch, combining to go 11 for 16 at the plate with five doubles, a triple, a home run, 10 RBIs and nine runs scored.
Ava Snip, Hudsonville softball
The senior pitcher continued her incredible season by throwing her fourth no-hitter of the year with Friday’s 11-strikeout, four-walk effort in a 7-0 win over state-ranked Grand Haven. Snip finished the week going 3-0 with 36 strikeouts in 21 shutout innings, while allowing four hits and five walks.
Leigha Stoepker, Jenison girls track
The junior thrower won all six of her events last week, starting with Monday’s conference meet against Hudsonville, where she set a personal best in the discus with a distance of 131 feet, 6 inches, before going on to win the shot put and discus at Wednesday’s OK Red meet against Caledonia a both events at Saturday’s Frank Grimm Invite.
Kalani Stowe, Wyoming softball
The senior pitcher surpassed 600 career strikeouts during last week’s 10-2 win over Comstock Park, in which she fanned 19 in seven innings and allowed four hits, one walk and one earned run. Stowe finished the week with 63 strikeouts in 27 2/3 innings, while allowing 16 hits, 10 walks and four earned runs. Offensively, Stowe went 13 for 21 at the plate with two doubles, a triple, five RBIs and eight runs scored during the Wolves’ 4-3 stretch.
Josh Tellier, Forest Hills Central baseball
The senior third baseman led Central to a three-game sweep over conference foe East Grand Rapids by going 6 for 9 at the plate with two doubles and a solo home run, which came in a 4-3 win in the series finale. He drove in six RBIs and scored twice, while also making two relief appearances on the mound, in which he struck out two, walked one and allowed two hits in 2 2/3 scoreless innings.
Mia VanderHeide, Jenison softball
The senior and Hope College commit provided a steady bat during a tough week for the Division 1 No. 3 Wildcats, which included losses to Hudsonville and Wayland, as VanderHeide went 7 for 12 with two doubles and a run scored.
Luke VanSlyke, Hopkins baseball
The junior catcher swung a hot bat during Hopkins’ 4-1 stretch that included a series win over NorthPointe Christian, finishing the week going 8 for 14 at the plate with a double, a triple and a home run, while driving in five runs and scoring four more.
Parker Vaughn, Cedar Springs baseball
The senior pitcher opened last week with a hard-luck loss in a 1-0 defeat to South Christian, in which he struck out five and allowed six hits and four walks in six innings, but he rebounded with another quality start against Traverse City West, leading the Red Hawks to a 5-0 win by striking out five in four innings, while allowing three hits. Offensively, Vaughn went 6 for 17 at the plate with two doubles, a home run, one run scored and three RBIs, including the game-winning RBI in Cedar Springs’ 1-0 victory over Comstock Park.
Emily Visser, East Kentwood softball
The senior catcher led East Kentwood to a 2-1 week by going 7 for 11 at the plate with a double, four RBIs and four runs scored, while also throwing out a baserunner in three steal attempts.
Brody Wiersma, Thornapple Kellogg baseball
The reigning Athlete of the Week continued his hot stretch and helped Thornapple Kellogg extend its win streak to 10 games by going 12 for 17 with four doubles, a triple, 11 RBIs and 14 runs scored, while also picking up a win on the mound by striking out five and allowing one unearned run on two hits in three innings of a 23-1 victory over Ottawa Hills.
Anna Zoet, Calvin Christian softball
The junior shortstop compiled another solid week, going 8 for 15 at the plate with two doubles, two home runs, seven RBIs and seven runs scored during the Squires’ 2-2 stretch.
