LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Essex's (Vt.)
Sarah Knickerbocker, South Park's (Pa.)
Jess Dean, Warhill's (Williamsburg, Va.)
Keely Rochard and Madisonville-North Hopkins' (Ky.)
Kaylee Tow were selected MaxPreps/NFCA National High School Player of the Week winners for their outstanding play during the week of June 5-11.
East RegionIn two games last week, Knickerbocker was 4-for- 7 (.571) with a pair of home runs, four RBI and three runs scored. Leaving the yard in each contest, Knickerbocker went 2-for- 3 with two RBI and a run scored during a 3-2 win over Bellows Free Academy and 2-for- 4 with two RBI and two runs in a one-run defeat to Mount Anthony.
North RegionIn victories over Titusville and Lincoln, Dean hit .833 and slugged 1.833 with a double, triple, home run, five RBI and four runs scored. She opened the week going 3-for- 3 at the plate with a triple, three RBI and two runs. Against Lincoln, Dean doubled, homered drove in two run and scored twice.
South Region
Rochard capped off a stellar season with an epic 18-inning shutout to win the Group 3A softball state title, In the title rematch against rival Brookville, Rochard went toe-to- toe with Jordan Dail, before a two-out walk-off hit won it for the Lions. Rochard scattered 10 hits, struck out 16 and walked five, while recording one of Warhill's eight hits. A day earlier in the semifinals, she twirled a one-hit shutout in a 2-0 victory over Patrick County. Rochard fanned 11, did not walk a batter and also drove in a run with a double.
South Central RegionTow keyed Madisonville-North Hopkins to its first state championship. Over a three-day, six-game stretch, Tow hit .600 with two home runs, five RBI and seven runs scored. She drew five walks, which contributed to her .680 on-base percentage. She was 3-for- 5 with two RBI and two runs in the tournament opener against Pikeville. Tow homered against Mercy and in the first of three games against Male (2-for- 2, 2B, HR, 3 R). In the title game against the same Bulldogs, she went 1-for- 2 with a double.
The 2017 MaxPreps/NFCA High School Players of the Week are announced on NFCA.org every Monday during the spring season, with one representative chosen from each of the five regions. During the spring campaign, a player from each of five separate high school regions is selected.
MaxPreps is a free stat tool that is available to high school coaches across the country and is one of the most recognized and respected high school athletics websites on the internet. Coaches who enter their team's stats on Max Preps will not only be nominating their players for this award, but they will be getting their team's information out to thousands of high school sports fans, as well as college coaches across the country.
To obtain a coach's login, please contact: coachsupport@maxpreps.com or call (800) 329-7324 x1. To enter a team's stats on the MaxPreps website, please click here.
