Kaleigha Kemp helped pace a Lady Cougar offense that has been historic this postseason once again in the Region I-5A quarterfinal sweep of El Paso Hanks.
She went 3 for 4 with a double and a team-high three RBIs in the 9-7, Game 1 win. She followed with four hits, including two home runs, three runs scored and another team-high four RBIs in Game 2’s 15-8 victory to reach the region semifinals for the first time since 1996.
For her efforts, Kemp earned 46% of the 2,253 votes to be named the Abilene Reporter-News Local Player of the Week for the week ending May 15.
The Lady Coogs take on former district foe Aledo in the region semifinals.
This week’s Top Five
1. Minely Avila, Wylie Softball
Avila made her final two games count, including a Game 2 victory to hold off elimination. She went 4 for 4 with a pair of doubles and an RBI in the 9-5 win. In Game 3, Avila provided the only offense with a three-run home run. She also caught all 14 innings behind the plate.
2. Amyah Starks, Abilene High Softball
Starks made the most of two games against Southlake Carroll in the region quarterfinals. She finished with five RBIs in the two games. Starks had a four-RBI effort in Game 2 that included a go-ahead three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning.
3 & 4. Dash Albus & Brooks Gay, Wylie Baseball
The usual starters combined to take care of business in Wylie’s one-game playoff. Albus pitched four shutout, one-hit innings with three walks and four strikeouts, but got the no decision. Gay came in for the final three innings, allowing one earned run on two hits with a walk and four strikeouts to get the win in the 3-2 victory against Andress.
5. Reed Hughes, Wylie Baseball
Hughes delivered the big hit as his RBI triple proved to be the game winner as the Bulldogs beat El Paso Andress in a one-game area playoff.
Jordan Hofeditz covers Abilene high schools and colleges, Big Country schools and other local sports. Follow him on Twitter at @jhofeditz. If you appreciate locally drive news, you can support local journalists with a digital subscription to ReporterNews.com.
Other top performers
Jennika Wllis, Cooper (Went 5-7, 2B, HR in sweep of Hanks); Jailyn Shaw, AHS (Went 5 for 8 with three runs scored against Southlake Carroll); Emma Mora, AHS (Had four hits, including a 2B, and an RBI against Southlake Carroll); Aliyah Martinez, Cooper (Scored three runs and had three RBIs, with a home run, against Hanks); Jaxon Hansen, Wylie (Had two hits and an RBI against Andress); Jazzy Cantu, AHS (Had three hits, two 2Bs, two runs scored and two RBIs against Southlake Carroll); Kylie Barnes. Wylie (Had four hits, scored three runs and had an RBI against Monterey); Balin Valentine, Wylie (Drew two walks and scored two runs against Andress).
