Homers, gems and steals: Vote for IndyStar softball players of the week (April 22-27)

IndyStar will be recognizing the top softball players in Indiana with our players of the week poll.

Scroll to the bottom of the article to vote. Voting is open until noon Friday.

We ran two polls last week (due to technical difficulties), so we have two winners! Congratulations to Plainfield's Sidney Parks and Ben Davis' Hannah Waltermire on being voted Players of the Week for April 15-20!

Parks picked up her 300th career strikeout during an eight-inning loss to 3A power Tri-West. She did not allow an earned run on two hits and struck out 13 batters in the 1-0 setback. Parks finished the week with 39 strikeouts and only seven hits allowed over 21 innings pitched.

Waltermire went 8-for-13 on the week with a double, two RBIs, a run scored and a stolen base. She also pitched eight innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits with zero walks and a strikeout, and was perfect on 10 total chances in the field.

Here are this week's nominees.

Allie Blum, New Palestine

The Kentucky commit helped maintain the Dragons’ perfect start, going 11-for-17 with three homers, three doubles and seven RBIs. She also delivered a few dazzling plays in the field over the four games. Blum, who had a five-game homer streak, was 3-for-6 with four RBIs in an 18-16 win over Noblesville and 3-for-3 with four runs scored in a 16-0 win over New Castle.

Lanaya Buckner, Kokomo

Buckner, a freshman, went off against North Central going 4-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored. Her performance vs. the Panthers was preceded by a two-hit performance vs. Northwestern that included a run, an RBI and a triple. Bucker logged a hit and stole two bases vs. Lafayette Jefferson.

Lily Cash, Hamilton Heights

Cash helped the Huskies secure an extra-innings win over Northwestern, pitching four innings of relief with six strikeouts — then walking it off with a single in the bottom of the 13th. Cash, who had three RBIs and a homer vs. the Tigers, had 10 hits, five RBIs and five runs scored for the four-game week.

Felicity Cunningham, Lanesville

Cunningham made three appearances in the circle this week, allowing just one unearned run over 17 innings pitched. She had eight Ks in a seven-hit shutout of Tell City (won, 2-0) and seven more Ks in a three-hit shutout of Paoli (won, 3-0) on Friday. The senior allowed her lone unearned run on two hits over three innings pitched with six strikeouts vs. West Washington.

Peyton Drummond, Floyd Central

The senior stole nine bases in three games, with four apiece vs. Columbus North and Bloomington South. Drummond’s 5-for-9 week at the plate was highlighted by three runs scored vs. Bloomington North and three RBIs against Bloomington South.

Cheyenne Eads, Shelbyville

A week removed from collecting her 500th career strikeout, Eads dazzled in the circle over four games last week, totaling 33 strikeouts over 19 innings pitched. She accounted for 15 strikeouts and allowed only one run on three hits in an eight-inning win over East Central. Eads also went 7-for-7 at the dish with three homers and two doubles.

Mary Hughes, Cathedral

The Irish went 4-0 on the week and Hughes contributed both at the plate and in the field. She registered five putouts in the field and went 8-for-11 at the plate (.727) and scored six runs. Hughes reached base safely in 10-of-11 plate appearances.

Sydney Mayer, Scottsburg

Mayer punched out 15 batters to help the Warriorettes secure a 4-0 win over Madison Consolidated.

Sylvia Mudis, Zionsville

Mudis bounced back from a hitless performance vs. Fishers with a 4-for-5 outing vs. Pendleton Heights that included three runs scored, six RBIs, two doubles and a home run.

Kaidynn Peckinpaugh, McCutcheon

Great week for Peckinpaugh, who picked up seven hits, five RBIs, and scored four runs across three wins for the Mavericks. She also swiped a base, went error-free on five fielding attempts and spun a complete-game gem vs. Logansport, allowing only one run on three hits with 15 strikeouts.

Ava Ratliff, Bedford North Lawrence

The junior set the state’s all-time home run record two weeks ago, clearing 51 bombs (she’s at 53, currently). She tacked on another to her record-setting mark Friday, hitting her 10th dinger of the season to lift BNL to a 2-1 win over Columbus East.

Kate Renschen, Lake Central

Renschen raked last week going 7-for-9 with six runs scored and three doubles. She was a homer shy of the cycle vs. La Porte, and was 3-for-3 with three runs scored in a 10-0 win over West Lafayette Harrison. Renschen also stole eight bases, leaving her with 24 for the season, and was perfect on 17 chances in the field (only one error on 17 chances this spring).

Savvanna Riall, Greenfield-Central

The sophomore was nearly perfect at the plate, going 9-for-10 with a home run and seven RBIs. Riall was 4-for-4 with four RBIs, a homer and two runs scored vs. Mt. Vernon and 3-for-3 with three runs scored, a couple RBIs and a triple vs. Delta. She pitched a scoreless inning vs. Delta and was 8-for-8 in the field over three games.

Emma Stopperich, Avon

Stopperich went 2-0 on the week, beating both Brownsburg and Terre Haute North. She allowed only one hit over four innings vs. Terre Haute North, then entered in relief to secure the win vs. the Bulldogs, allowing zero earned runs on two hits with three strikeouts. She also had three RBIs and a run scored vs. Brownsburg.

Grace Swedarsky, Hamilton Southeastern

The sophomore continues to dazzle and dominate. She pitched a three-hit shutout vs. Fishers, striking out eight and issuing only one walk, then took down Pendleton Heights, allowing only one earned run on three hits with 10 strikeouts and three walks.

Ady Wellner, Scecina

Wellner lifted Scecina to a blowout win over Heritage Christian, driving in six runs on three hits with a double and a home run. She also scored twice herself. The senior, who’s batting a career-best .379 this season, also had hits against Lutheran and Purdue Poly.

Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana high school softball players of week (April 22-27)