Vote: Who should be SBLive's WaFd Bank Arizona Baseball Athlete of the Week (5/13/2024)?

Here are the candidates for the WaFd Bank Arizona Baseball Athlete of the Week as nominated by coaches, fans and readers. 

Read through the nominees and cast your vote. We’ll send a free SBLive T-shirt to the winner of the poll! Voting will conclude Sunday at 11:59 p.m. and the winner will be announced Monday.

If you would like to make a nomination in a future week, email danbrood91@gmail.com.

Editor’s Note: Our Athlete of the Week feature and corresponding poll is intended to be fun, and we do not set limits on how many times a fan can vote during the competition. However, we do not allow votes that are generated by script, macro or other automated means. Athletes who receive votes generated by script, macro or other automated means will be disqualified. 

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Jaxxon Alvarez, Bisbee

The freshman shortstop went 3 for 4 at the plate with a double a run and four RBIs for the Pumas in their 9-5 win over Benson in a Class 2A semifinal contest played at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

Michael Chop, Canyon del Oro

The sophomore second baseman smacked a two-run go-ahead double in the bottom of the sixth inning of the Dorado’s 3-2 win over Estrella Foothills in a Class 4A semifinal contest played at Diablo Stadium. For the game, he went 2 for 3 at the plate with two RBIs.

Deondre Collier, Hayden

The senior stepped up for the Lobos in their 9-3 eight-inning win over Bagdad in a Class 1A semifinal contest played at the Goodyear Baseball Complex. He pitched seven and a third strong innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits while striking out seven and walking two. He also went 4 for 5 at the plate in the victory.

Finn Dilley, Lincoln Prep

The junior had an outstanding performance for the Lightning in an 8-7 win over Anthem Prep in a Class 1A semifinal game played at the Goodyear Baseball Complex. At the plate, he went 2 for 4 with a triple, two runs and two RBIs. He also pitched five and two-thirds scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while striking out 12 and walking four.

Eric Fox, Hayden

The senior shortstop went 3 for 5 at the plate with a double, a run and three RBIs for the Lobos in their 9-3 eight-inning win over Bagdad in a Class 1A semifinal tilt played at the Goodyear Baseball Complex.

Mickey Fox, Yuma Catholic

The junior was a perfect 3 for 3 at the plate with a double, a stolen base and a run for the Shamrocks in their 4-3 victory over Northwest Christian in a Class 3A semifinal contest played at the Goodyear Baseball Complex.

Bryant Gragg, Lincoln Prep

The junior went 2 for 3 at the plate with a walk and a pair of runs for the Lightning in an 8-7 win over Anthem Prep in a Class 1A semifinal contest played at the Goodyear Baseball Complex.

Logan Guilford, Sunrise Mountain

The sophomore blasted a three-run home run, was twice hit by a pitch, scored two runs and drove in four for the Mustangs in their 12-6 win over Nogales in a Class 5A semifinal game played at HoHoKam Stadium.

Jake Harrison, Valley Christian

The senior went 2 for 3 at the plate with a two-run triple, a run and three RBIs for the Trojans in their 4-1 win over Gilbert Christian in a Class 3A playoff tilt played at the Goodyear Baseball Complex.

Jaylen Jimenez, Sandra Day O’Connor

The freshman pitcher threw four strong innings, allowing one unearned run on three hits while striking out four and walking one in the Eagles’ 2-1 win over Liberty in a Class 6A playoff contest played at Diablo Stadium.

Sebastian Lopez, Bisbee

The junior went 2 for 5 at the plate with a stolen base, a run and two RBIs for the Pumas in their 7-2 win over Phoenix Christian in the Class 2A state championship game, played at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

Kino Lorona, Hayden

The sophomore hit a three-inning first-inning inside-the-park home runs for the Lobos to spark their 14-8 win over Lincoln Prep in the Class 1A state title game, played at Tempe Diablo Stadium. He also walked and scored another run in the victory.

Jose Mendez, Bisbee

The senior shined for the Pumas in their 7-2 win over Phoenix Christian in the Class 2A state championship game, played at Tempe Diablo Stadium. At the plate, he went 2 for 4 with a double, a run and an RBI. He also pitched six and a third strong innings, allowing two runs while striking out five and walking two.

Anthony Molina, Bisbee

The senior outfielder went 3 for 4 at the plate with two runs and two RBIs in the Pumas’ 9-5 win over Benson in a Class 2A semifinal tilt played at Tempe Diablo Stadium. He then went 2 for 4 with a run and an RBI in a 7-2 win over Phoenix Christian in the state title contest.

Micky Moran, Gilbert Christian

The freshman shortstop went 3 for 3 at the plate with two walks and four RBIs to help the Knights edge Valley Christian 10-9 in a Class 3A playoff contest played at the Goodyear Baseball Complex.

Chris Peronace, Sandra Day O’Connor

The senior left-hander threw three strong shutout innings of relief, getting six of the nine outs on strikeouts, preserving the Eagles’ 2-1 win against Liberty in a Class 6A playoff tilt played at Diablo Stadium. He then threw five scoreless innings in relief, giving up two hits while striking out five and walking three in a 2-1 10-inning win over Brophy Prep.

Tait Reynolds, Queen Creek

The sophomore outfielder walked twice and scored a pair of runs to help the Bulldogs post a 6-5 win over Basha in a Class 6A semifinal game played at HoHoKam Stadium.

Daniel Ruiz, Yuma Catholic

The sophomore went 3 for 5 at the plate with a double, a run and an RBI for the Shamrocks in their 7-5 10-inning win over Northwest Christian in a Class 3A playoff game played at the Goodyear Baseball Complex.

Connor Russell, Casteel

The sophomore outfielder went 2 for 3 at the plate and he scored a pair of runs for the Colts in their 8-1 win over Notre Dame Prep in a Class 5A semifinal tilt played at HoHoKam Stadium.

Cade Shumard, Saguaro

The senior left-handed pitcher, and a New Mexico State commit, turned in a spectacular game on the mound for the Sabercats, spinning a complete-game no-hitter, striking out 17 and walking three in the Sabercats’ 5-0 win over Flagstaff in a Class 4A semifinal contest played at Diablo Stadium.

Oliver Sierra, Phoenix Christian

The sophomore shortstop went 2 for 3 at the plate with a double, a run and an RBI to help the Cougars score a 6-1 win over Kingman Academy in a Class 2A semifinal game played at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

Darren Smith, Hayden

The freshman stepped up for the Lobos in their 14-8 victory against Lincoln Prep in the Class 1A state championship game, played at Tempe Diablo Stadium. At the plate, he went 3 for 4 with a run and an RBI. He also pitched four innings, allowing two runs on two hits while striking out one and walking two.

Gavin Smith, Basha

The senior shortstop went 2 for 3 at the plate with a double, a triple, a walk and he scored twice for the Bears in their 6-2 win over Mountain Ridge in a Class 6A playoff game played at Diablo Stadium. He then went 2 for 3 at the plate with a home run, a double and two RBIs in a 6-5 semifinal loss to Queen Creek.

Kohen Spannagel, Phoenix Christian

The freshman turned in a solid pitching performance for the Cougars, allowing one run on five hits while striking out eight and walking four in their 6-1 win over Kingman Academy in a Class 2A semifinal game played at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

Cody Stoller, Sandra Day O’Connor

The junior pitcher turned in a complete-game performance, allowing one run on five hits while striking out five and walking one for the Eagles in their 3-1 win over Brophy Prep in a Class 6A semifinal game played at HoHoKam Stadium.

Chase Wagner, Notre Dame Prep

The senior pitcher threw six shutout innings, allowing four hits while striking out seven and walking none in leading the Saints to an 8-0 win over Mountain Pointe in a Class 5A playoff game played at Diablo Stadium.

Ryker Waite, Queen Creek

The junior shortstop doubled, stole a base and scored a run for the Bulldogs in their 6-5 win against Basha in a Class 6A semifinal game played at HoHoKam Stadium.

Grant Young, Canyon del Oro

The senior pitcher turned in a complete-game performance for the Dorado, giving up two runs on six hits while striking out nine and walking none in a 3-2 win over Estrella Foothills in a Class 4A semifinal game played at Diablo Stadium.

David Zazueta, Nogales

The senior had an RBI walk-off double for the Apaches in their 7-6 eight-inning win over Campo Verde in a Class 5A playoff contest played at Diablo Stadium. For the game, he went 2 for 4 at the plate with two doubles and two RBIs.