York standouts Maddie Fitzgerald, Ben Brown win Seacoast Athletes of Week honors
The Seacoast high school Athletes of the Week winners for May 13-18 are York High School softball player Maddie Fitzgerald and York baseball player Ben Brown, presented by York County Community College.
Fitzgerald joins previous girls winners this spring: Marshwood softball player Piper Catanese, York softball player Sarah Orso, Exeter softball player Lila Smith, Marshwood lacrosse player Maddy Poitras and Spaulding softball player Maddie Hartman.
Brown joins Oyster River lacrosse player Alex Moody, Somersworth baseball player Simon Grandmaison, Exeter baseball player Cam Piwnicki, Marshwood baseball player Charlie Hudson and Dover lacrosse player Micah Krick as boys winners.
The weekly poll runs each Monday through midnight Thursday, and can be found at seacoastonline.com/sports and fosters.com/sports. The honors are presented by York County Community College.
More on girls winner Maddie Fitzgerald of York High School
Fitzgerald won the online voting by securing nearly 40% of the votes with 206 to take girls Athlete of the Week honors. Exeter track athlete Rayna Thompson finished second with 103 votes.
St. Thomas Aquinas lacrosse player Megan Leahy had 101 votes, Dover lacrosse player Rylen Gray had 60 votes and Spaulding lacrosse player Rachel Baughman had 50 votes.
Fitzgerald hit for the cycle — single, double, triple and home run — in Wednesday's 13-3 win over Gray-New Gloucester. She hit a grand slam and another two-run home run in York's 17-0 win over Cape Elizabeth on Friday.
"Watching Maddie develop as a hitter has been awesome to witness," York head coach Kevin Giannino said. "She now possesses the ability to make adjustments, not only each at-bat but pitch to pitch. Hits with power to all fields and has been flirting with .700 all season. Also has been playing Gold Glove defense for us at (first base). Fearless competitor with huge upside; great teammate! Great kid! We all look forward to celebrating this award with her. It’s well deserved."
More on boys winner Ben Brown of York High School
Brown won the online voting by securing over 32% of the online voting, totaling 190 to take boys Athlete of the Week. Exeter tennis player Oliver Beradino finished second with 169 votes.
Newmarket baseball player John Schlieder had 91 votes, Portsmouth Christian Academy track player Tim Kelm had 78 votes and Winnacunnet track athlete Oliver Duffy had 61 votes.
Brown blasted a walk-off grand slam to give York a 10-8 Class B South win over Falmouth last Monday.
"Ben Brown was huge for York baseball last week," York head coach Nick Hanlon said. "He had an unforgettable moment against Fryeburg - the kind of moment you imagine for yourself as a kid in the backyard. Extra innings, bases loaded, two outs, full count and hit a home run. He's risen to the big moments time and time again for York baseball the past two years, and I'm very happy to see him recognized."
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: York's Maddie Fitzgerald, Ben Brown are Seacoast Athletes of Week
