Illini Bluffs baseball player voted as Journal Star athlete of the week

Adam Duvall, Journal Star
·3 min read

Josh Vaughn of the Illini Bluffs baseball team was voted as the Journal Star athlete of the week.

The junior right-hander struck out 20 batters in a 6-0 win over Brimfield/Elmwood on Thursday. Vaughn scattered two hits and hit a pair of batters in facing 25 hitters on 92 pitches. His first nine batters were retired via strikeout.

The poll closed at noon Friday. Information about the other nominees is below. If you have a nominee for the honor, email us at sports@pjstar.com or tag us on Twitter @pjstarsports. Last week, Brandon Sieben of the Morton baseball team was named JS athlete of the week.

More: 'It was dominating': Illini Bluffs pitcher impresses in 20-strikeout performance

Kylie Black, Peoria Christian softball

Black had a monster week for the Chargers, who went 3-0. The freshman left-hander started the week last Monday with a 16-strikeout, no-hit performance in a 3-1 win over Delavan. She then went 3-for-5 with seven RBIs and three doubles as PCS beat Galva, 20-8 in six innings on Thursday. Black capped her week with a 15-strikeout victory over Richwoods at Hits for the Cure on Saturday.

Hudson Shaw, Metamora boys tennis

Shaw was a two-event winner in beating Mid-Illini Conference rival, Washington, 5-4 on Thursday. He was the No. 3 singles winner, 6-2, 6-0 over Max Niehaus, while partnering with Alexander Schroff at No. 1 doubles. Shaw and Schroff beat Matt Savage and Toston Berg, 6-0, 6-2.

Devyn Davis, Dunlap girls soccer

Davis scored a pair of goals in the team's first match since the passing of their teammate Tessa Sutton. With Dunlap down 1-0 at halftime, the sophomore notched a left-foot tally, then scored on a second-half penalty kick as the Eagles tied Moline, 2-2 on Thursday.

More: 'Our beautiful girl': Beloved Dunlap teen soccer player loses battle to cancer

David Russell, Illinois Valley Central boys track and field

The reigning Class 2A discus state champion broke the third-oldest IVC track & field record on Thursday. In a meet at Princeville, he threw 172 feet, 6 inches, breaking Tom Lindholm's record set in 1999 (172-1). Russell also won the shot put in 55-11.75.

More: Here are 12 of the top Peoria-area boys and girls track and field athletes for 2023

Paige Stevens, Farmington girls track and field

The sophomore was a part of two winning events in last Thursday's five-team meet at Kewanee. She won the 100-meter dash (13.77 seconds) and teamed with Mariah Hayden, Averie Gilstrap and Lily Swanson in the 4x200-meter relay (1:55.09) victory. Stevens also took third in the 200-meter dash, clocking in at 29.94 seconds.

Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Results of Journal Star athlete of the week poll: Dunlap, IVC nominees