With the 2026 Texas high school baseball and softball playoffs ramping up statewide, the Big Country’s top high school athletes shined across the Lone Star State last week.
Several athletes had standout performances during last week’s action and have been nominated for this week’s edition of the Abilene Reporter-News’ City National Bank High School Athlete of the Week.
The Reporter-News is taking weekly nominations and will release a list of finalists for the City National Bank Athlete of the Week at the beginning of each week.
Please include statistics from the week’s games and any pertinent information or honors.
Students in all varsity sports are eligible and can only be named Athlete of the Week one time per season, per sport, and athletes from one school cannot win more than three consecutive weeks.
The poll will close at 5 p.m. Saturday and the winner will be announced shortly afterward.
Nominations are due by 7 p.m. Saturday and can be submitted through email at sports@reporternews.com or Andrew.McCulloch@reporternews.com.
Take a look at this week’s candidates and cast your vote.
Candidates for the Abilene Reporter-News’ High School Athlete of the Week are listed in alphabetical order below.
Mia Clemmer, Coahoma softball
Clemmer – a Texas Longhorns softball commit – tallied a double and a walk on 1-for-2 hitting during the Bulldogettes’ 8-1 loss to the Santa Gertrudis Academy Lady Lions in the Class 3A Division II UIL Softball State Championship game.
Emery Doporto, Coahoma softball
Doporto went 1-for-3 at the plate with a double and an RBI in Coahoma’s 8-1 loss to Santa Gertrudis Academy in the Class 3A Division II UIL Softball State Championship game.
Ian Gruben, Hamlin baseball
Gruben took the loss on the mound, but pitched a gem of a game in Hamlin’s 1-0 loss to Gordon in Game 1 of their state semifinals series in the 1A UIL Baseball Playoffs, tossing 6⅔ innings with seven strikeouts, six walks, one hit and zero earned runs allowed for the Pied Pipers.
Stryker Reed, Gordon baseball
Reed slammed the door shut on the mound for the Longhorns in their 18-8 win over Hamlin in Game 2 of the state semifinals series in the 1A UIL Baseball Playoffs, tallying five strikeouts, four walks, three hits and three earned runs allowed after throwing five innings of relief. He also thrived at the plate, recording a home run, two RBIs, two runs scored, a walk and a pair of stolen bases.
Aiden Shank, Gordon baseball
Shank stood out both at the plate and on the mound during Gordon’s two-game sweep of Hamlin in the state semifinals of the 1A UIL Baseball Playoffs. He earned a win on the mound in Game 1 after recording 11 strikeouts, four walks and three hits through seven shutout innings pitched. He also went 3-for-4 at the plate for the series with two home runs, five RBIs, three runs scored, a stolen base and a walk.
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This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Vote for Big Country Athlete of the Week for May 25-31, presented by City National Bank
Reporting by Andrew McCulloch, Abilene Reporter-News / Abilene Reporter-News
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