BAY CITY, MI — MLive is recognizing standout performers from the Bay City coverage area each week throughout the spring sports season and giving readers a chance to select an Athlete of the Week.
This week’s ballot features all of the runner-up finishers from the nine polls conducted during the 2023 spring sports season, giving them a second chance at the honor.
Cast your vote on the poll below for Athlete of the Week as often as you’d like until the poll closes at 12:01 a.m. Friday, June 23, 2023. THERE IS NO VOTING BY EMAIL.
LIBBY BRAND, HARRISON
The Harrison senior delivered a spectacular day for the girls track and field team at the Division 3 regional. She is heading to the state finals in a pair of relays after helping the Hornets finish as runners-up in the 4×100 relay (52.68) and the 4×200 relay (1:52.95). She finished third in the 200 in a personal-best 27.33 and took seventh in the pole vault at 7-3.25.
MAX FELLOWS, ESSEXVILLE GARBER
The lanky lefty has made a name for himself with the Garber baseball team as one of the area’s top pitchers. But he made a memory of another kind with his bat last week. Fellows blasted a home run at The Corner Ballpark, site of the former Tiger Stadium. His solo shot was the highlight of Garber’s 4-1 loss to No. 2-ranked Detroit Edison. Fellows is batting .347 on the year to go with his six pitching wins.
OLIVIA JUBAR, UNIONVILLE-SEBEWAING
A key cog in Unionville-Sebewaing’s run to the past two Division 4 softball state championships, she stands at the heart of the order as cleanup hitter. The senior first baseman wields a potent bat for the top-ranked Patriots, as she displayed last week while going 5-for-7 with two home runs and a double against state-ranked North Branch.
ABBY KARST, REESE
A two-time state qualifier for the Reese girls track and field team, she posted the Bay City area’s highest finish in the Division 3 state finals. The senior claimed state runner-up honors in the shot put, notching a personal-best 37 feet, 11.5 inches. That bested her regional effort by 2 feet, 7 inches. She finished first or second in the event all 11 times she competed in it this season. Karst also finished 12th in the discus at 106-11, another new personal record.
BEN KOCHANY, BAY CITY WESTERN
The senior right-hander dominated on the hill, powering the Bay City Western baseball team to the Bay County Championship crown. He notched the win in the title game, throwing a four-inning two-hitter with nine strikeouts to down John Glenn 15-0. He also rapped six hits with six RBIs in the tourney.
JACEY REZMER, BAY CITY WESTERN
The Bay City Western girls tennis team features a strong tone-setter at the top of its lineup in Rezmer. The fourth-year varsity performer worked her way up to the No. 1 singles spot for her senior year. She showed her poise, rallying from a set down for a three-set win over Saginaw Nouvel. She also won a three-set thriller to lead the Warriors past Bay City Central.
BRAYDEN SCHABEL, STANDISH-STERLING
The designated hitter for the Standish-Sterling baseball team, he did his job extremely well while leading the way to the final four. The senior delivered six hits on the week as the Panthers downed Clare, Charlevoix and Gladstone. He was on fire with a four-hit, three-RBI performance in the 10-6 regional championship win over Charlevoix.
SHANIA SIMMONS, BAY CITY WESTERN
Right when the Bay City Western softball team needed a lift, up stepped Simmons to take care of the task. She threw two gritty games from the pitching circle, leading the Warriors to a 5-0 and 7-5 sweep of Midland Dow to halt a four-game skid. She struck out eight in the Game 1 shutout then came back with seven more Ks in the nightcap.
MALLORY STACK, REESE
An emerging slugger for the Reese softball team, she has worked her way into the cleanup spot in the lineup. The junior rattled off an eight-game hitting streak, culminating with a huge doubleheader against Caro. She knocked four hits with four runs batted in and socked her first career home run.
MLive player polls are non-scientific ventures, designed to promote fun, fandom and discussion. The winners receive no prize and the results have no bearing on postseason awards.
Use of any form of automated voting is contrary to the intent and is not allowed.
Votes are not always tabulated immediately. If you receive a “Thank you for voting” message, your vote will be counted.
THERE IS NO VOTING BY EMAIL
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