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Morton softball player voted Journal Star high school athlete of the week

adam duvall, peoria journal star
·4 min read

Alyvia Springer of the Morton softball team was voted Journal Star athlete of the week.

Springer made the most of a seven-game week. She hit .423 off 11 hits with two doubles, two home runs and seven RBIs for the Potters. The shortstop went 4-for-7 with two homers and five RBIs in beating Williamsville, 20-14, in nine innings on Friday. Springer batted leadoff, posting a 1.215 OPS, a .484 OBP and a .731 slugging percentage during that span. She posted a .957 fielding percentage with one error, 10 assists and 12 putouts.

The poll closed at noon Friday. Information about the nominees is below. If you have a nominee for the honor, email us at sports@pjstar.com or tag us on Twitter @pjstarsports. Last week, Sophia Revallo of the East Peoria softball team was named JS athlete of the week.

Josh Vaughn, Illini Bluffs baseball

Vaughn pitched a perfect game in incredible fashion on Friday. The Bradley-bound right-hander struck out all 21 batters in beating Peoria Christian, 1-0. He threw 87 pitches — 67 for strikes — in securing his fifth double-digit strikeout game of his senior season.

Background: Illini Bluffs high school pitcher throws perfect game with all strikeouts

Tanner Wiegand, Eureka baseball

Wiegand twirled a no-hitter for the Hornets last week. The junior pitcher beat Delavan, 1-0, last Wednesday, facing one over the minimum with five strikeouts and no walks. Eureka provided Wiegand with run support thanks to Mason Stoller's RBI in the fourth inning.

Jackie Contreras, Richwoods girls soccer

Contreras gave the Knights the only score they needed in a key nonconference meeting. The senior midfielder scored a goal off an assist by Addison Lefler to give Richwoods a 1-0 victory over Pekin on Friday. Contreras added another goal as the Knights beat Bloomington, 9-0, last Wednesday.

Dylan Anderson, Pekin boys track and field

Anderson was a two-event winner in last Tuesday's dual meet. The freshman won the 200-meter dash (23.40 seconds) and the long jump (20 feet, 0.25 inches) as Pekin hosted Richwoods. Anderson then teamed with Eli Swanson, Noah Perfetti and Ty Jackson to finish second in the 4x100-meter relay. Richwoods won the meet, 72-56.

Pekin Edison 8th-grader Dylan Anderson is a five-sport athlete who won three state championship track events, finished second in a fourth, and accumulated enough points to give Edison an IESA state team championship even though he was the only athlete on the team in late May, 2023.
Pekin Edison 8th-grader Dylan Anderson is a five-sport athlete who won three state championship track events, finished second in a fourth, and accumulated enough points to give Edison an IESA state team championship even though he was the only athlete on the team in late May, 2023.

Ranaisha Howard-Dunigan, Limestone girls track and field

Howard-Dunigan swept the sprints at last Wednesday's conference meet. The senior won the 100-meter dash (12.26 seconds) and 200-meter dash (25.40 seconds) at the Mid-Illini Conference Championships. She was also the anchor in the runner-up 4x100-meter relay team with Grace Pauli, Anaya Seldal and Maleah Otis-Lewis in 50.57 seconds, getting edged out by Dunlap (50.37 seconds).

Limestone's Ranaisha Howard-Dunigan, left, edges Richwoods' Lena Jackson, right, and Galesburg's Syriah Boyd to win the 100-meter dash Thursday, May 11, 2023 at the Galesburg Sectiona Track and Field Meet in Galesburg. Lena Jackson finished second and Boyd was third.
Limestone's Ranaisha Howard-Dunigan, left, edges Richwoods' Lena Jackson, right, and Galesburg's Syriah Boyd to win the 100-meter dash Thursday, May 11, 2023 at the Galesburg Sectiona Track and Field Meet in Galesburg. Lena Jackson finished second and Boyd was third.

Elijah Chism and Tony Zhang, Peoria Christian boys tennis

The PCS doubles team grabbed a thrilling victory in a nonconference meet last Wednesday. Chism and Zhang picked up a 6-3, 3-6, 11-9 victory in the No. 3 doubles match against Dunlap. The Eagles won the match, 8-1.

Karlie Young, Dunlap girls lacrosse

Young had a huge offensive game last Tuesday. She scored four goals as the Eagles beat Edwardsville, 14-4.

Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Results of poll for Peoria, Illinois, high school athlete of the week