Poll: Vote for the Journal's April 17-23 Athletes of the Week

Stephen Haynes, Poughkeepsie Journal
·4 min read

With several career and program-best performances last week, we've got a stacked list of nominees representing track and field, softball, tennis, lacrosse and baseball.

Last week's Athlete of the Week winners were Marlboro softball player Leah Gunsett, who received 9,415 votes to win the small-schools poll, and Poughkeepsie baseball player Will Matias, whose 8,190 votes won the large-schools poll.

John Jay's Vinny Fusco pitches during the Section 1 Class AA baseball quarterfinal versus Arlington in Freedom Plains on June 9, 2021.
John Jay's Vinny Fusco pitches during the Section 1 Class AA baseball quarterfinal versus Arlington in Freedom Plains on June 9, 2021.

Voting will be open until 4 p.m. Tuesday. This week's nominees:

Large-school nominees

Vinny Fusco, John Jay-East Fishkill baseball

The senior threw a two-hitter with 11 strikeouts, including striking out the side to escape a bases-loaded jam in the sixth inning, leading the Patriots in a 3-0 win over rival Arlington. Fusco also drove in a run.

Wappingers girls lacrosse teammates celebrate Cassidy Schuchat and Alexa Cazzorla for reaching milestones during an April 21, 2023 game. Schuchat eclipsed 200 career saves and Cazzorla notched her 100th point.
Wappingers girls lacrosse teammates celebrate Cassidy Schuchat and Alexa Cazzorla for reaching milestones during an April 21, 2023 game. Schuchat eclipsed 200 career saves and Cazzorla notched her 100th point.

Cassidy Schuchat, Wappingers girls lacrosse

The senior made 13 saves, including the 200th of her career, helping spark the Warriors in a 15-3 win over Arlington last Friday. Teammate Alexa Cazzorla also notched her 100th career point in the game.

Girls basketball All-Stars: Lourdes' Simone Pelish shines bright among local stars

Wrestling All-Stars: Arlington's Dillon Arrick headlines the Journal's 2022-23 standouts

Ketcham softball player Jenny Nardelli poses with the ball after hitting a two-run homer in their win over John Jay-East Fishkill on April 21, 2023.
Ketcham softball player Jenny Nardelli poses with the ball after hitting a two-run homer in their win over John Jay-East Fishkill on April 21, 2023.

Jenny Nardelli, Ketcham softball

She went 4 for 5, including a two-run homer, to lead Ketcham in a win over rival John Jay-East Fishkill. The junior also was 2 for 3 with three RBI in their win against New Rochelle.

David Laubenheimer, John Jay-East Fishkill track & field

The junior won the boys 1,600 meters in 4:40.45 at the Rondout Valley Gander Invitational last Saturday.

Franklin D. Roosevelt's Cali Delvecchio at bat during Monday's game versus Burke Catholic on April 18, 2022.
Franklin D. Roosevelt's Cali Delvecchio at bat during Monday's game versus Burke Catholic on April 18, 2022.

Cali Delvecchio, Roosevelt softball

She went 4 for 4 with a career-high six RBI and three runs, leading the Presidents in a victory over Kingston in the final of the FDR Tournament last Saturday. (Teammate Cali DeLawder also notched the 100th RBI of her career and senior Aliya Feerick set a school record with her 169th hit.)

Danny Barry, Beacon boys tennis

He defeated Newburgh's Jackson Barki, 6-0, 7-5, at third singles, tying the team score, before the Bulldogs went on to secure a 4-3 upset of the Goldbacks last Tuesday.

Ketcham's Riley Weatherwax readies to deliver a pitch against Yorktown during an April 15, 2023 baseball game.
Ketcham's Riley Weatherwax readies to deliver a pitch against Yorktown during an April 15, 2023 baseball game.

Riley Weatherwax, Ketcham baseball

He allowed two hits and struck out 10 in six innings, leading Ketcham in a 7-2 in over Carmel last Thursday. The junior also had two hits and drove in four runs in their 10-1 win over the Rams on Saturday.

Liam Murphy, Beacon baseball

The catcher was named MVP of the Spring Bash Tournament last weekend. He was a combined 3 for 4 with two walks, two runs and an RBI, leading the Bulldogs to victories over Roosevelt and Tappan Zee to claim the tournament title.

Arlington's Riley Pettigrew on her way to winning the girls 100-meter dash during the Section 1 State Track Qualifier at Arlington High School in Freedom Plains June 3, 2022.
Arlington's Riley Pettigrew on her way to winning the girls 100-meter dash during the Section 1 State Track Qualifier at Arlington High School in Freedom Plains June 3, 2022.

Riley Pettigrew, Arlington track & field

The sophomore won the girls 100 meters (12.68 seconds), finishing ahead of John Jay superstar Arianna Gonzalez, at the Rondout Valley Gander Invitational.

Alana Rider, Roosevelt track & field

She won the girls long jump (16 feet, 2 inches) and the discus (96-6) at the Rondout Valley Gander Invitational. The senior also placed fourth in the triple jump and high jump.

Small-school nominees

Spackenkill's Andrew Speranza pitches during the Class B subregional baseball game at Cantine Field in Saugerties on Thursday, June 2, 2022.
Spackenkill's Andrew Speranza pitches during the Class B subregional baseball game at Cantine Field in Saugerties on Thursday, June 2, 2022.

Andrew Speranza, Spackenkill baseball

The left-hander struck out a career-high 17 in six scoreless innings, leading the Spartans in a 1-0 win over Highland. He went 3 for 3 with a triple and three RBI in their victory against Ellenville, and was a combined 4 for 6 with two doubles and four RBI in two games at Beacon's Spring Bash Tournament.

Brooke Sikula, Pine Plains softball

The freshman had eight strikeouts in five scoreless innings as the Bombers defeated Webutuck last Friday. The victory was the 300th of coach Les Funk's decorated career.

Marlboro's Juliana Juras poses with her first-place plaque at Icahn Stadium after setting a program record in the girls discus at the New York Relays on April 21, 2023.
Marlboro's Juliana Juras poses with her first-place plaque at Icahn Stadium after setting a program record in the girls discus at the New York Relays on April 21, 2023.

Juliana Juras, Marlboro track & field

The junior won the girls invitational discus with a program-record distance of 129 feet, 11 inches at the New York Relays last Friday. Juras' distance was almost nine feet ahead of second place. She also won the shot put and discus at North Rockland's Red Raider Relays.

Drew Cornax, Lourdes boys lacrosse

The midfielder had six goals and five assists, leading the Warriors in a 20-7 win over Rondout Valley last Wednesday. The junior also scored three goals against Red Hook and surpassed 100 career points.

Aidan Damon, Pine Plains baseball

He allowed one earned run and struck out 13 in 6⅓ innings, leading the Bombers in what eventually was a walkoff win.

Haldane boys lacrosse player Liam Gaugler poses with the souvenir ball after scoring his 100th career point in the Blue Devils' win on April 22, 2023.
Haldane boys lacrosse player Liam Gaugler poses with the souvenir ball after scoring his 100th career point in the Blue Devils' win on April 22, 2023.

Liam Gaugler, Haldane boys lacrosse

The junior had three goals and four assists, eclipsing 100 career points, during the Blue Devils' 16-11 win over Hicksville (Long Island) last Saturday.

Nectarios Rodriguez, New Paltz boys tennis

He defeated Rondout Valley's Ellis Picuri, 6-4, 6-2, at first singles to lead the Huguenots in a 3-2 win last Tuesday. The junior also beat Highland's Liam VanValkenburgh, 7-6, 6-2, in another New Paltz victory.

Hunter Tomlin, Highland baseball

The freshman pitched a five-inning no-hitter with eight strikeouts, leading the Huskies in a 13-0 win over Ellenville last Thursday.

Highland's Alexa Pavese on the pitching mound during Wednesday's game versus Spackenkill on April 19, 2023.
Highland's Alexa Pavese on the pitching mound during Wednesday's game versus Spackenkill on April 19, 2023.

Alexa Pavese, Highland softball

The sophomore struck out six and allowed no earned runs in a complete game as the Huskies defeated Spackenkill, 7-1, last Wednesday.

Aidan Ifkovits, New Paltz track & field

He took first in the boys discus with a throw of 131 feet, 7 inches at the Rondout Valley Gander Invitational. Ifkovits also placed third in the shot put.

This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Vote for the Journal's April 17-23 Athletes of the Week