Editor’s note: We prohibit the use of bots and any other artificial methods of voting. Suspicious activity could lead to the disqualification of candidates and a permanent suspension of the Athlete of the Week poll. No voting by email: Votes by email and after 5 p.m. Wednesday are not counted.
Welcome to the Bay Area News Group (Mercury News & East Bay Times) girls Athlete of the Week poll.
For the entire academic year, we will provide a list of candidates who stood out over the previous week and allow you, the reader, to vote for the winner.
This week, we consider performances from May 19-24.
Polls close at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Vote as many times as you’d like until then without using bots or any other artificial methods of voting.
Votes by email and after 5 p.m. Wednesday are not counted.
Scroll to the bottom for the poll.
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Winners are announced each Friday online and in the print edition of the Mercury News and East Bay Times sports sections.
Candidates for future Athlete of the Week polls can be nominated at [email protected].
We accept nominations until 11 a.m. each Monday.
We also review stats submitted to MaxPreps by coaches/team statisticians.
On to the nominees:
Amirat Temi Aganju, Pittsburg track and field: Aganju won three events at the NCS track meet and finished second in another. She topped the 100 meters in 11.78 seconds, helped the Pirates win the 4×100-meter relay and the 4×400 relay and took second in the 300 hurdles with a time of 44.36.
Ava Bulanti, St. Francis softball: Bulanti had a strong all-around game for the Lancers on Saturday, setting the tone with six no-hit innings in the circle and picking up a pair of RBIs at the plate as St. Francis handled Los Gatos 7-0 in the CCS opening round.
Mia DeMartini, Hillsdale softball: DeMartini knocked in three runs and hit a triple and a home run as Hillsdale topped Branham 10-0 in the first round of the CCS playoffs.
Katelynn Dilbeck, Willow Glen softball: The senior drove in the only run scored by either team in Willow Glen’s 1-0 CCS quarterfinal win over Archbishop Mitty, homering in the second inning to give pitcher Alanna Clincy all the run support she would need.
Kira Gant-Hatcher, St. Mary’s-Berkeley track and field: Gant-Hatcher won both the triple jump and the long jump at the NCS meet, logging a mark of 40-10.5 in the triple and 16-7.25 in the long jump.
Miley Gradney, Alameda softball: Gradney went 3 for 3 as the Hornets’ leadoff hitter with two singles, a triple and a walk in Alameda’s win over Granada in the first round of the NCS playoffs. She added two hits and scored a run in a 6-4 quarterfinal loss to Livermore.
Daniella Hughes, Los Altos track and field: Hurdles won the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 14.64 seconds and topped the triple jump with a mark of 39 feet at the CCS championships on Saturday in Gilroy.
Brianna Lopiccolo, Capuchino softball: Lopiccolo’s two-out single in the bottom of the ninth brought home the winning run as Cap beat Valley Christian 4-3 in a thrilling CCS quarterfinal matchup. She also had an RBI single in the first inning.
Jules McCafferty, Livermore softball: The freshman had the crucial game-tying hit in the sixth inning, blooping a two-run single to right field to tie the game as Livermore rallied from a 4-2 deficit and went on to beat Alameda 6-4 in the NCS quarterfinals.
Olivia Mixco, Live Oak softball: Mixco drove in four runs with three hits, including a home run, as Live Oak run-ruled Homestead 11-1 in the opening round of the CCS playoffs.
Laila Morales, Independence softball: Morales had a pair of hits and two RBIs as top seed Independence beat Greenfield 12-5 in the opening round of the CCS Division V playoffs on Saturday. Independence will face King City this week.
Jade Orta, San Leandro softball: Orta had four RBIs as the Pirates run-ruled Moreau Catholic in the opening round of the NCS playoffs. She added a pair of hits and scored a run as No. 11 San Leandro upset No. 3 Arroyo in the quarterfinals on Friday.
Ariana Romo, Newark Memorial softball: The freshman pitched a two-hitter as eighth-seeded Newark Memorial rolled No. 9 Redwood in the opening round of the NCS playoffs. She also drew a walk and scored a run.
Saira Ramakrishnan, Saratoga softball: Ramakrishnan pitched a complete game in the Falcons’ 3-2 CCS quarterfinal win over Mills, scattering seven hits and allowing one earned run. She also drove in two runs with sacrifice flies.
Emma San, Dublin track and field: The UC Davis commit completed her successful return from an ACL injury, winning the 100-meter hurdles at the NCS meet in 14.59 by upsetting top qualifier Hope Diekmann from San Ramon Valley.
Regan Steele, Westmont softball: Steele, a senior, pitched a complete game with three strikeouts and six hits allowed as No. 4 Westmont beat No. 5 Los Altos 4-1 in the opening round of the CCS Division III playoffs. The Warriors will next face Mountain View on Wednesday.
Hailey Truong, Notre Dame-Belmont softball: Troung knocked in the winning run for NDB in the bottom of the seventh, plating Eliana Crespin with a single to secure a 2-1 win over Piedmont Hills in the first round of the CCS Division II playoffs. She also contributed on the mound, pitching two scoreless innings with no runs allowed.
Sam Zimmerman, Sobrato softball: Zimmerman pitched six stellar innings, allowing just two hits as Sobrato shut out Prospect 2-0 in the CCS playoffs opening round. She also drove in the first run of the game, grounding into a fielder’s choice in the first inning.