Editor’s note: We prohibit the use of bots and any other artificial methods of voting. Suspicious activity could lead to the disqualification of candidates and a permanent suspension of the Athlete of the Week poll. No voting by email: Votes by email and after 5 p.m. Wednesday are not counted.
Welcome to the Bay Area News Group (Mercury News & East Bay Times) boys Athlete of the Week poll.
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.
This week, we consider performances from May 13-18.
Polls close at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Vote as many times as you’d like until then without using bots or any other artificial methods of voting.
Votes by email and after 5 p.m. Wednesday are not counted.
Scroll to the bottom for the poll.
Winners are announced each Friday online and in the print edition of the Mercury News and East Bay Times sports sections.
Candidates for future Athlete of the Week polls can be nominated at highschools@bayareanewsgroup.com.
We accept nominations until 11 a.m. each Monday.
We also review stats submitted to MaxPreps by coaches/team statisticians.
On to the nominees:
Lakin Anderson, Westmont baseball: Anderson hit a walk-off single to beat Los Altos 1-0 in nine innings in the Central Coast Section Division II first round game. Westmont will play league rival Leigh in the second round on Wednesday.
Shafer Dando, Piedmont baseball: Dando totaled two hits and four RBIs in Piedmont’s 5-0 win over Hercules in the second round of the North Coast Section Division IV playoffs. Piedmont will play McKinleyville at home in the semifinals on Wednesday.
Evan Gardner, Homestead track and field: Gardner won the 800-meter race in 1:53.99 at the CCS championships.
Jeovanni Henley, Serra track and field: Henley set the CCS championships freshman meet record in the 400, crossing the finish line in 47.97.
Jaden Jefferson, De La Salle track and field: The sophomore won the 100 in 10.46, beating out Acalanes Paul Kuhner in the NCS championships. Jefferson also won the 200 race in 21.39.
Colton Richardson, Benicia baseball: Richardson, a sophomore, hit the go-ahead three-run homer in Benicia’s 6-4 win against Washington-Fremont in the NCS Division II playoffs. Benicia will play top-seeded Cardinal Newman in the semifinals on Wednesday.
Zion Shelton, El Cerrito track and field: Shelton finished first in the 110 hurdles with a time of 14.32 at the NCS championships. Shelton will compete at the state finals later this week.
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Piedmont rejuvenated coming off bye, shuts out Hercules to advance to NCS Division IV semifinals
Cooper Smith, Leigh volleyball: Smith, a junior, had a team-high 22 kills in Leigh’s 3-2 CIF NorCal championship game win over Monta Vista. Leigh won its first boys volleyball state title in school history.
Jesus Vasquez, James Logan baseball: The senior came in relief and struck out seven in three innings to help James Logan beat Monte Vista in the first round of the NCS Division I playoffs.
Waylon Walsh, Archbishop Mitty baseball: Walsh, a junior, went 3 for 3 with a double and six RBIs in Mitty’s 12-1 win over Burlingame in the CCS Division I playoffs. Mitty will play Valley Christian in the second round on Wednesday.