Spring sports are in mid-season form and there were a number of impressive individual performances last week by athletes in the Greater Savannah area.
Here’s a look at some of the notable accomplishments last week in baseball, soccer and track and field.
This is a chance for readers to weigh in and select the Savannah Morning News Athlete of the Week in an open poll with no restrictions on the voting. The poll will close on Saturday, March 22, at 11 a.m.
Here are this week’s candidates.
Colvin Proto, Benedictine baseball
The junior threw a shutout going seven innings and allowing just five hits, while striking out five without walking a batter on 83 pitches in a 1-0 victory over Warner Robins.
Jacque’s King, Effingham County baseball
The senior center fielder had a big series as the Rebels swept a three-game series with Greenbrier to improve to 16-2 and 3-0 in Region 1-5A play. He was 5 for 11 in the series with a pair of doubles and four RBIs. He’s hitting .431 with 16 runs, 16 RBIs, an on-base percentage of .554 and an OPS of 1.123.
Evan Narvaez, Islands soccer
The senior netted a pair of goals in a 3-0 win over SE Bulloch for the Sharks, who improved to 8-3 overall and 6-0 in Region 3-3A play. He has 20 goals and 16 assists this year.
Sam Renshaw, Calvary Day baseball
The senior went 3 for 3 with a double and two runs in a win over Liberty County and was 2 for 3 with an RBI in a win over SE Bulloch. He is hitting .514 with 18 hits, 10 runs and eight RBIs, with a .595 on-base percentage and an OPS of 1.195 for the Cavs, who are 11-4 overall and 6-0 in Region 3-3A play under head coach Phillip Lee, who picked up his 200th career win last week.
Kate Hunter, Savannah Country Day soccer
The sophomore had two goals in a win over Toombs County and added two more in a win over Hilton Head Prep. She has 15 goals and two assists for the Hornets, who are 8-2 overall and 1-0 in Region 3A Division I play.
Ahmed Abdalla, Jenkins soccer
The senior led a comeback from a two-goal deficit in a 3-2 win over Calvary Day with a goal, an assist and four steals and also played a big factor in a 5-3 win over Liberty County as the Warriors improved to 9-0 overall and 6-0. Jenkins has a big game at Islands on Thursday, March 20.
Jordan Gunn, Savannah Arts girls soccer
The sophomore racked up seven goals with two assists in a 10-0 win over Savannah Christian and had a hat trick with four assists in a 10-0 win over Appling County last week. She has 20 goals and 10 assists for the Panthers, who are 9-1 overall and 4-0 in Region 3-2A play.
John Lopez, Richmond Hill soccer
Lopez had a pair of goals in a win over Tift County and also found the back of the net in a win over Hilton Head Prep. The sophomore has five goals and two assists for the Wildcats, who are 9-1 overall and 6-0 in Region 1-6A play.
Harry Cleland, Habersham School track and field
The junior won the 3200 meter race at the Savannah Country Day School meet with a time of 10:03.32 and was fourth in the 1600 with a personal best time of 4:42.38.
Cole Minnich, Benedictine track and field
The sophomore won the 800 meters at the Savannah Country Day School meet with a time of 2:03.37 and was also first in the 1600 in 4:31.82.
Andrew Nicholson, Savannah Country Day track and field
The senior who has signed to play football at Bucknell won the shot put at the Savannah Country Day School meet with a personal best throw of 50-feet, four inches, the best mark in the state among Class A-3A Private School athletes this year.
Chloe Adkins, Effingham County track and field
The sophomore won the 1600 and 3200 meters at the Savannah Country Day School meet with a times of 5:30.14 and 12:00.11.
Tekla Thompson, St. Vincent’s track and field
The freshman won the girls discus at the Savannah Country Day School meet with a throw of 112-0 and was second in the shot put just .25 inches behind Savannah Christian’s Mollie Poppell, with a throw of 35-0.25.
Dennis Knight covers sports for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at Dknight@savannahnow.com. Twitter: @DennisKnightSMN
