COLDWATER – While computer problems have slowed down the sports reporting at The Daily Reporter, nothing has been able to slow down this week’s The Daily Reporter Athlete of the Week as the freshman phenom from Coldwater continues to take the softball world by storm.
In a poll that garnered nearly 29k votes, this week’s The Daily Reporter Athlete of the Week as voted on by you, the readers, is Coldwater softball freshman and all-around star Laynie VanAken.
From the beginning of this week’s poll, it was a two-horse race, as the two well-deserving student-athletes traded the lead several times throughout the first few days. On day three VanAken started to open a lead she would never look back from as the freshman ended up with 63.77% of the vote, winning by just under 8k votes.
VanAken was honored after a huge week both at the plate and on the mound for the Coldwater softball Cardinals. At the plate VanAken finished 8 for 13, including a 4 for 4 game, with a triple, eight RBIs, and nine runs scored. On the mound VanAken was nearly unhittable, earning two wins in three games pitched. VanAken pitched 11 total innings, allowing a single hit while recording 29 strikeouts compared to just one walk.
VanAken added to that week with another big one this week, both at the plate and on the mound. At the plate VanAken finished with six hits in three games, recording five singles and a double with three RBIs and five runs scored. On the mound VanAken secured a win in a seven-inning effort with 13 strikeouts. VanAken also pitched amazingly in relief, throwing six innings and a third with no hits and 17 strikeouts.
Taking second place in this week’s The Daily Reporter Athlete of the Week poll is Bronson softball senior Lydia Wells who finished with 35.88% of the vote. Wells serves as Bronson’s catcher and is one of the best in the Big 8 to do so. Wells is not too shabby at the plate either, finishing last week with seven hits including three singles, two doubles, a triple, and a home run to go along with five RBIs.
Also earning votes this week were Quincy track and field record breakers Noah Rufenacht and Brookelyn Parker along with Union City baseball sophomore Carson Liles.
Stay tuned to the Daily Reporter for more Athlete of the Week polls and more exciting engagement opportunities as the spring sports season here in Branch County slowly comes to a close. For any questions regarding The Daily Reporter Athlete of the Week honor please email sports editor Troy Tennyson at ttennyson@thedailyreporter.com.
This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Coldwater’s Laynie VanAken voted The Daily Reporter Athlete of the Week
Reporting by Troy Tennyson, Coldwater Daily Reporter / Coldwater Daily Reporter
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