{"id":975,"date":"2026-06-01T20:41:16","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T20:41:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=975"},"modified":"2026-06-01T20:41:16","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T20:41:16","slug":"vote-now-bay-area-news-group-girls-athlete-of-the-week-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=975","title":{"rendered":"Vote now: Bay Area News Group girls athlete of the week"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Welcome to the Bay Area News Group (<\/span>Mercury News<\/span> &<\/span> East Bay Times<\/span>) girls<\/span> Athlete of the Week poll.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more Vote now: Bay Area News Group boys athlete of the week<\/a><\/p>\n

For the entire academic year, we will provide a list of candidates who stood out over the previous week and allow you, the reader, to vote for the winner.<\/span><\/p>\n

This week, we consider performances from May 25-30<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Polls close at 5 p.m. Wednesday.<\/span><\/p>\n

Vote as many times as you\u2019d like until then without using bots or any other artificial methods of voting.<\/span><\/p>\n

Votes by email and after 5 p.m. Wednesday are not counted.<\/span><\/p>\n

Scroll to the bottom for the poll.<\/span><\/p>\n

Winners are announced each Friday online and in the print edition of the Mercury News and East Bay Times sports sections.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Candidates for future Athlete of the Week polls can be nominated at highschools@bayareanewsgroup.com.<\/span><\/p>\n

We accept nominations until 11 a.m. each Monday.<\/span><\/p>\n

We also review stats submitted to<\/span> MaxPreps<\/span> by coaches\/team statisticians.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you haven\u2019t already, <\/span>please subscribe<\/span>. Your contributions keep us going.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Please note: This is the final Athlete of the Week poll of the 2025-26 school year. The poll will return when the fall sports season begins.<\/p>\n

On to the nominees:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Julianna Altamirano, Live Oak softball: <\/b>Altamirano drove in three runs and pitched a complete game in the circle as Live Oak beat Leigh 13-6 to win the CCS Division II championship.<\/span><\/p>\n

Amaya DeFlorimonte, Bishop O\u2019Dowd track and field: <\/b>DeFlorimonte placed fifth in the triple jump at the CIF state championship. The senior has been a state finalist every year of high school in the triple jump. She jumped 39 feet, 9.5 inches for a new personal best and new O\u2019Dowd school record.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Marley Hernandez, Santa Clara softball:<\/b> The junior drove in three runs with a pair of hits as Santa Clara beat Silver Creek 14-8 for the CCS Division V championship.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more Serena Williams, 44, returning to pro tennis ahead of Wimbledon<\/a><\/p>\n

Daniela Hughes, Los Altos track and field: <\/b>Hughes won the triple jump at the CIF state meet, jumping 41 feet and one inch to win the individual crown. The senior is committed to join UC Berkeley\u2019s track team next year.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lelani Laruelle, Monta Vista track and field: <\/b>The senior committed to Cal won the high jump at the CIF meet, clearing 5 feet, 8 inches to win the individual title.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kyleigh Mace, Archbishop Mitty softball: <\/b>Mace, a BYU signee, pitched a complete game as Mitty beat Willow Glen 1-0 in the CCS Open Division championship, allowing three hits with nine strikeouts and three walks.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ellie McCuskey-Hay, St. Ignatius track and field: <\/b>The senior committed to Oregon won the long jump at the CIF state championships, going 20 feet, 3 \u00bd inches to win the title.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Maddie Neighbor, San Ramon Valley softball:<\/b> The senior drove in three runs and had a pair of hits as SRV beat College Park 17-1 to win the NCS Division I championship.<\/span><\/p>\n

Caroline Zerella, Notre Dame-Belmont softball: <\/b>Zerella pitched a complete game with four hits allowed, three strikeouts and no walks as Notre Dame-Belmont won the CCS Division IV championship 5-0.<\/span><\/p>\n