After plenty of solid sports performers over the last week, here are the Journal Star high school boys athlete of the week nominees for June 1-6, presented by CEFCU.
Head to www.pjstar.com/sports to vote. The poll closes at noon Friday. Information about the nominees is below.
If you have a nominee for the honor, email us at sports@pjstar.com or tag us on X @pjstarsports. Last week, Ben Gorsage of the Washington track and field team was named JS boys athlete of the week.
Johnathon Stunkel, Putnam County baseball
The senior’s bat and arm sent PC to its first Elite Eight since 2013. Stunkel was a triple short of the cycle as the host Panthers beat Fulton 11-2 in the sectional championship on Saturday, June 6. He went 4-for-5 with a single in the first, double in the second, a sixth-inning homer run and another double in the seventh. Stunkel also picked up the pitching victory, striking out four, walking two and giving up four hits on 97 pitches.
Griffin Meeker, Tremont baseball
The senior is making the most of his final prep season, going 5-for-7 last week. Tremont beat Lexington 7-4 in the Class 1A Bloomington Sectional final on June 6. He went 2-for-4 with an RBI double in the second, then added another run-scoring groundout in the fifth. His week began on June 3 with a three-hit day as the Turks beat Athens 7-1. Meeker had a pair of triples, while driving in two, drawing a walk and scoring a run.
Noah Malone, Brimfield/Elmwood baseball
The senior played hero for the first Indians sectional title since 2022. Malone’s walk-off hit lifted Brimfield/Elmwood to a 7-6 win over Illini West in the Class 2A Chillicothe Sectional title on June 6. His two-out, run-scoring single to right field plated Dane Fagerburg. Malone finished 4-for-5 with two RBIs as the Indians claimed their sixth sectional title in program history.
B/E plays Ottawa Marquette for its first-ever state finals berth on Tuesday, June 9.
Auggie Lohnes, East Peoria baseball
The senior came up big to help East Peoria make history. Lohnes drove in the go-ahead RBI as East Peoria beat Dunlap 5-3 in the Class 3A Washington Sectional title game on June 6. That victory gave the Raiders their first sectional championship since 1974. Lohnes hit the first pitch of his fifth-inning at-bat to left field, bringing home Breyon Maroney. In June 3 sectional semifinal win over Metamora, Lohnes had a base hit.
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: Vote for Journal Star boys athlete of the week for June 1-6, presented by CEFCU
Reporting by Adam Duvall, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
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By Adam Duvall, Peoria Journal Star | USA TODAY Network
