Baseball
Luke Green, Pine View (Sr.)
Luke Green, Pine View
Photo courtesy Pine View
Accomplished something very rare last Tuesday in Pine View’s 19-1 win over Hurricane.
The senior hit a single, double, triple and home run — in that order — for the natural cycle. His home run was a grand slam as well. A cycle hit in order has only been done 14 times in the 142-year history of Major League Baseball.
“Luke has always been a kind young man with a strong work ethic on and off the field. He sets goals and is determined to do what it takes to fulfill his goals. Luke is a self-driven, self-motivated young man who always works and earns what he wants never expecting someone to cut him a break,” said Pine View coach Glen MacLellan.
Green is batting .405 for the season with one home run, seven doubles and 16 RBI. His slugging percentage is .784.
“He is also a strong young man with a sense of self-awareness and his belief in himself and his ability shows in his confidence. Luke is a natural leader due to his achievements and others will easily follow him. Yet he does not portray himself as better than any of his peers or teammates. Luke is selfless in his actions and he will do what it takes to help each teammate successful. He is also a Sterling Scholar. Which he has always worked hard to achieve and will graduate high school with his associate degrees from Dixie State. That’s the kind of kid he is. He is a coach’s dream player and teammate."
Girls Track
Amber Kartchner, Logan (So.)
Amber Kartchner, Logan track & field
Photo courtesy Logan
Had a great showing at the Cache-Box Invitational at Ridgeline High School last week.
The sophomore finished first in the high jump by clearing 5-feet, 4-inches, finished second in the long jump at 16-3.50 and then placed in the top eight in the 100 meters.
Her high jump mark ties for the best in Utah this spring, and is already two inches better than her best jump last season.
Kartchner was recently voted onto the Deseret News All-State Basketball first team as she averaged 20.4 points this year.
Softball
Rylie Bennett, Fremont (Jr.)
Rylie Bennett, Fremont softball
Photo courtesy Fremont
Fremont has won eight straight games since a slow start to the season, and a big reason why is the play of Rylie Bennett.
This season she is battling .552 with an on-base percentage of .629 and four doubles.
Last week in victories over Mountain Crest, Northridge and Weber, Bennett went 7 for 12 with one double, one triple, two RBI and six runs scored. She also had a perfect fielding percentage between shortstop and second base.
“Rylie is a quiet, calming force on our team. She knows what she has to do and is adamant about doing the best for her teammates. She is an amazing leadoff hitter and has done a great job of setting the tone for the games we have played this year,” said Fremont coach Mandy Koford. “Her confidence and leadership of this team has been demonstrated by how well she puts herself in positions to be successful for us both at bat and in her defensive positions.”
Boys Soccer
Eli Nixon, Layton (Jr.)
Eli Nixon, Layton soccer
Photo courtesy Layton
Had a great week for the top-ranked Lancers last week.
On Tuesday, the junior scored a pair of goals to spearhead a 2-0 win over Syracuse, and then two days later, he scored two goals again in a 3-2 win over rival Northridge.
“Eli Nixon is an amazing soccer player and all-around athlete. Eli has loads of speed, is very powerful, and he has a knack for scoring goals and getting assists. Eli is an extremely hard worker and is never afraid to try new things to improve his game. He is always throwing bicycle kicks in practice and in games,” said Layton co-head coach Derek Amano.
In seven games this season, Nixon has seven goals and four assists.
“I’ve known Eli for quite some time and I could not be happier to have the opportunity to work with him and have him on the team. I’m excited to see him continue to grow and develop as a player and individual,” said Amano.
Boys Tennis
Logan Wells, Lone Peak (Sr.)
Lone Peak, Lone Peak tennis
Photo courtesy Lone Peak
After missing his junior season because of major knee surgery, this senior is making up for lost time this year.
Splitting time between first and second singles this year, Wells is undefeated this season and is one of Lone Peak’s team captains.
“Logan is a critical part of Lone Peak’s team this year and is a big part of what we are trying to accomplish,” said Lone Peak coach Roger Baumgartner. “Logan has been working very hard to be able to return for his senior season. His goal is to duplicate his sophomore season with another team and individual state title.”
Girls Golf
Apelila Galeai, Lehi (So.)
Apelila Galeai, Lehi golf
Mary Mills
One of the stars on the basketball court for Lehi, Apelila Galeai has transitioned quickly to the golf course this spring as the ace of the team.
A second-place finisher at last year’s 4A state tournament, Galeai sits atop the Region 10 standings two matches into the season.
Last Wednesday at Sleepy Ridge Golf Course, she shot a 79 to win by six shots. The week prior she shot a 73 and through two matches she leads the Region 10 standings by 15 strokes.
Boys Track
Thomas Boyden, Skyline (Jr.)
Thomas Boyden, Skyline track & field
Photo courtesy Skyline
A fifth-place finisher in the 5A state cross country meet last fall, Thomas Boyden is improving upon that success on the track so far this spring.
A month into the season the junior owns the best time in the entire state in both the 1,600 and 3,200 meters, both races coming two weekends ago at the Pine View Invitational.
Boyden posted a 4:17.37 in the 1,600 meters and then a 9:15.04 in the 3,200 meters. Considering he didn’t place at state in the 1,600 last spring and only finished eighth in the 3,200, he’s made remarkable strides over the past year.
“What makes Thomas such a great runner is his willingness to do whatever it takes. Not only will he work hard, but he is willing to be coached. He is one of the few that looks forward to hard workouts knowing they will make him better,” said Skyline coach Zac Erekson.