Two North State athletes are being recognized for their outstanding achievements on the diamond and track.
This week, a U-Prep and West Valley high school athlete are being highlighted. It’s time to meet the two Shasta Family YMCA Athletes of the Week for their accomplishments over the week of May 24-30.
Jack Ampi, U-Prep
Sport: Baseball
School: U-Prep
Class: Senior
Team Contributions: The U-Prep baseball team finished the regular season with an 11-14-1 record, yet they still took home the Northern Section Division IV title. Senior pitcher Jack Ampi was a major part of the Panthers’ magical postseason run. In U-Prep’s three NSCIF playoff games, Ampi pitched 14.1 innings, allowing 9 hits and 3 earned runs while striking out 18 batters. Throughout the entire season, Ampi posted a 2.73 ERA with 86 strikeouts — good enough to earn him the Northern Athletic League’s Most Outstanding Pitcher award. As a batter, Ampi finished the season with a 0.308 batting average, 28 hits, and 17 RBIs. Ampi stepped up all year, especially when it mattered most, and he helped the Panthers bring home another section title.
Kelsey Morton, West Valley
Sport: Track and Field
School: West Valley
Class: Sophomore
Team Contributions: Kelsey Morton has had an impressive sophomore year at West Valley. In the fall, she competed with the volleyball team as they made an appearance in the section championship. She won a championship with the girls basketball team in March. In the spring, she brought her winning ways to the track.
On May 22, Morton took first place in both shot put and discus at the Northern Section track and field championships. The following week, Morton placed seventh in shot put at the CIF state championships with a throw of 39-07.25, becoming the only North State athlete to crack the top 10 in any event at that meet. In just two years of high school athletics, Morton has already shown that she can dominate whatever sport she competes in.
To nominate an athlete, please follow this link or submit nominations to sports reporter Brett Abrams at Brett.Abrams@redding.com.
Brett Abrams is a sports reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. He covers high school and local sports in the Redding area. Reach out to Brett with any sports tips or news on X (formerly Twitter) @brabrams_ or by email at Brett.Abrams@Redding.com. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Meet the 2 Shasta Family YMCA Athletes of the Week for May 24-30
Reporting by Brett Abrams, Redding Record Searchlight / Redding Record Searchlight
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By Brett Abrams, Redding Record Searchlight | USA TODAY Network
