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Vote for The Charlotte Observer high school baseball player of the week (05.21.22)

Here are the nominees for The Charlotte Observer’s high school baseball player of the week. Readers can vote as often as they want until want until Saturday.

Connor Bellew, Metrolina Christian: The Warriors’ sophomore went 2-for-3 with a run scored and the game-winning RBI in a 4-3 victory at Wesleyan Christian in the NCISAA 4A quarterfinals May 14.

Bellew also went 2-for-3 with a double, a home run, four RBI and three runs scored in a 12-3 second round win over Greensboro Day May 12.

Metrolina Christian is 18-6 overall this season.

Cobb Hightower, East Rowan: The Mustangs’ sophomore went 2-for-4 with a double in a 3-2 win in eight innings over North Gaston in the first round of the 3A state playoffs May 10.

Hightower also went 4-for-4 with a double and three RBI in an 8-1 victory at Enka in the second round of the playoffs May 12.

Hightower is batting .422 with four home runs, eight doubles and 25 RBI for East Rowan (25-4).

Greyson Little, South Mecklenburg: The Sabres’ went 1-for-2 with a double to help South Mecklenburg to a 6-4 win at East Forsyth in the first round of the 4A state playoffs May 10.

Little also went 4-for-4 at the plate in a 7-6 victory at Lake Norman in eight innings in the second round of the playoffs May 12.

Little is batting .523 for South Mecklenburg (15-11).

Nicholas Noto, SouthLake Christian: The Eagles’ senior shortstop went 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored in an 11-1 NCISAA 3A quarterfinal win over Concord Academy May 14.

Noto, a Samford University commit, is batting .306 with seven home runs and 18 RBI for SouthLake Christian (15-6).

Brett Pressley, Gaston Day: The Spartans’ senior right-handed pitcher struck out 13 batters in six innings of work on the mound, to earn the victory as Gaston Day won at No. 5 seed Burlington Christian in the first round of the NCISAA 2A state playoffs May 10. Pressley was also 2-for-3 at the plate in the same game.

Gaston Day also upset the O’Neal School, 9-4, in the second round of the playoffs May 12.

Gaston Day’s (4-18) postseason run came to an end in a 24-9 loss at the Burlington School May 14.

Colby Putnam, Burns: The Bulldogs’ freshman went 6-for-8 at the plate as Burns beat West Wilkes in the first round of the 2A state playoffs, before ending their season in an 11-7 loss to Trinity May 12.

Burns finished the season 22-4 overall.

Tyler Roakes, Carmel Christian: The Cougars’ senior went 3-for-3 with a home run, a triple, a single and a walk in a 10-2 win over Covenant Day in the second round of the NCISAA 4A state playoffs May 12.

Roakes also went 2-for-4 in a 7-0 season-ending loss to Rabun Gap Nacoochee in the state quarterfinals May 14.

Carmel Christian finished the season 10-13 overall.

Landon Reeves, North Lincoln: The Knights’ senior went 2-for-3 with a run scored in a 7-4 win over North Iredell in the opening round of the 3A state playoffs May 10.

Reeves also went 2-for-4 with a double and a RBI in a 2-1 win over Crest in the second round of the playoffs May 12.

Reeves is batting .421 with four doubles and 13 RBI for North Lincoln (19-5).

Jordan Rowell, Hickory Grove: The Lions’ senior went 2-for-3 with a double, three RBI a run scored and a stolen base as Hickory Grove beat Gaston Christian 8-1 in the NCISAA 3A state quarterfinals May 14.

Rowell is batting .339 with six doubles and nine RBI for Hickory Grove (14-10-1).

Mason Smith, Lincoln Charter: The Eagles’ senior went 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBI at the plate, while striking out five batters and not allowing a run in four innings on the mound in a 7-4 win over Forbush in the second round of the 2A state playoffs May 12.

Smith, an East Carolina University signee, also scored two runs, had a walk and a stolen bases in a 7-5, first round playoff win over Surry Central May 10.

Smith is batting .341 with 10 home runs, five doubles, 26 RBI and eight stolen bases at the plate, while going 4-0 with 72 strikeouts in 38 innings of work on the mound for Lincoln Charter (20-4) this season.

** Information published today includes statistics through May 14.

If you want to nominate an athlete?: Athletes of the week highlights high school players with outstanding performances. The goal is to recognize all athletes in all sports, both the most accomplished and the underrated or underappreciated players. If you want to suggest someone to be included in the Athletes of the week column, send email to Jay Edwards at edwardswork23@gmail.com. Please include the athletes’ name, school, class and applicable game performance statistics. Coaches must be willing to verify information.

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