AC Flora softball, Airport baseball standouts voted spring sports athletes of week
The votes are in, and AC Flora’s Pressli Reynolds and Airport’s Daniel Butts won the vote for The State’s Midlands High School boys and girls Athletes of the Week.
Thanks for all who voted. There will be a new poll up on Tuesday. Coaches can send nominees to Lou Bezjak at lbezjak@thestate.com by noon on Tuesdays.
Congrats to all the nominees.
Girls Player of Week Nominees
Mary Grace Bryant, Mid-Carolina softball: Junior first baseman/pitcher went 3-for-7 with 2 HRs and 5 RBI in two games last week. Bryant also pitched a complete game in the win over Chapin, allowing 2 earned runs on 5 hits with 4 strikeouts.
Gabby Cadena, Blythewood softball: Cadena was 5-for-6 with a double and 2 RBI for the Bengals last week.
Hailey Jimenez Cortez, Brookland-Cayce soccer: Jimenez Cortez had six goals and two assists in the Bearcats’ two matches.
Jennifer Gause, Northside Christian soccer: Freshman had 5 goals and 3 assists in win over North Central.
Alexis Jodie, River Bluff softball: Senior went 10-for-12 with a home run, 3 doubles, 6 RBI and scored 8 runs.
Haley Manz, Lexington softball: Senior pitcher went 2-0 with 18 strikeouts in 11 innings last week.
Pressli Reynolds, AC Flora softball: Reynolds went 6-for-10 with 3 home runs and 10 RBI including hitting for the cycle against Richland Northeast. She also went 2-0 as a pitcher and had 18 strikeouts in 10 innings.
Melinda Veler, White Knoll softball: Freshman outfielder went 4-for-7 with a double, triple and 4 RBI last week in two games.
Boys Player of Week Nominees
Banks Alexander, River Bluff baseball: Sophomore catcher was 5-for-12 with 2 home runs and 7 RBI as the Gators went 3-0 last week.
Johnathan Bonds, Richard Winn: Bonds pitched a perfect game and struck out 12 in the 3-0 win over Wardlaw. In two games at the plate, he also was 3-for-8 with an RBI.
Daniel Butts, Airport baseball: Butts struck out 10 in a complete-game shutout win over South Aiken.
Reider Carlson, Lexington baseball: Junior pitcher allowed just one hit, struck out nine in 5 innings in the win over Irmo.
Tristan Daniels, Saluda baseball: Junior hit .556, scored 6 runs and was 6-of-6 in stolen bases for the Tigers.
Pope Johnson, AC Flora lacrosse: Senior had 10 goals and 6 assists in Falcons’ two wins last week.
Jaquon McKinney, Mid-Carolina baseball: Senior first baseman went 4-for-8 with 2 doubles, 2 RBI and 3 runs scored last week.
Matthew Pinasco Hammond soccer: Pinasco had 5 goals and 2 assists in the Skyhawks’ two wins last week.
Jalen Tucker, Chapin soccer: Senior forward had a goal and assist against Dutch Fork and had the game-winning goal against Lexington.
This story was originally published March 24, 2026 at 4:01 PM.
