Bay Area News Group girls athlete of the week: Justine Valdivia, Wilcox softball
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Wilcox softball player Justine Valdivia is the Bay Area News Group’s high school girls athlete of the week for May 8-13 after she received 50.13% of the vote at the 5 p.m. deadline Wednesday.
Sobrato softball player Sofia Ferrante (18.68%) placed second and Mountain View gymnast Alyssa Ong was third.
Congratulations to all the candidates for this week’s recognition.
Valdivia, a senior, pitched six and a third innings against Los Altos on Tuesday, and then threw nine innings and walked just one batter against a ranked Milpitas team. Valdivia also went 2 for 4 with an RBI against Milpitas, her second multi-hit game of the season.
To nominate an athlete for next week’s poll, email highschools@bayareanewsgroup.com by Monday, May 22, at 11 a.m. Please include stats and team results.
We also review stats submitted to MaxPreps.com by coaches/team statisticians for consideration.
Winners are announced each Friday on the Mercury News & East Bay Times websites and, starting Sept. 30, in the print edition of the Mercury News and EB Times sports sections.
Past winners
May 1-6: Kelsey Zhang, Saratoga swimming
April 24-29: Laila Wang, Archbishop Mitty badminton
April 17-22: Annelise Burgos, Mt. Eden softball
April 10-15: Gianna Tassio, Terra Nova softball
April 3-8: Aleena Helms, Amador Valley softball
March 27-April 1: Jasmine Whorely, Alameda softball
March 20-25: Sami Bianchi, Wilcox softball
March 13-18: Camryn Manning-Alarcon, Leigh softball
March 6-11: Jenna Balousek and Morgan Overton
Feb. 26-March 4: Ruiqi Liu, Menlo School basketball
Feb. 20-25: Michelle Tang, Mills basketball
Feb. 13-18: Mikayla Garcia, James Logan wrestling
Feb. 6-11: Alli Dioli, Half Moon Bay basketball
Jan. 30 to Feb. 4: Quinn Godfrey, Branham basketball
Jan. 13-28: India Bowles, Archbishop Riordan soccer
Jan. 16-21: Priscilla Quihuiz, San Jose soccer
Jan. 9-14: Trinity Chu, California basketball
Jan. 2-7: Tali Fa’i, Newark Memorial basketball
Dec. 12-17: Deanna Luna, James Lick soccer
Dec. 5-10: Sofia Bowes, San Ramon Valley basketball
Nov. 28 to Dec. 3: Kendall McClure, Heritage basketball
Nov. 21-26: Soo-Jin Berry, Clayton Valley Charter basketball
Nov. 14-19: Rachel Stephens, Los Gatos water polo
Nov. 7-12: Raquel Calderon, Mercy-Burlingame volleyball