Each week, the sports crew at King FM and KSTC shuffles through the stack of stats we get form all our area schools high schools and NJC sports programs and find the best performances of the week. Then, you get to vote for the performance you think should be dubbed “King of the Week” presented by Ertle Brothers Discount Auto. Then, each Saturday morning we announce the player you voted as simply the best!

Here’s the 411 on the rules…

1. A player can be nominated as many times during a sports season as he/she can. Once players have been nominated for the “King of the Week” honor, your votes and your votes alone in the poll on the right-hand sidebar will choose which one was the best. In the event of a tie, the sports crew reserves the right to break the tie as they see fit.
2. Please limit yourself to one vote per week. The sports crew should not need to consume their time in eliminating votes due to abuse. If the player you have the intense desire to vote for over and over truly had the best performance of the week, others will vote for that performance. (Note: Nowhere in the rules does it state you cannot encourage others to vote for a given performance). Please have respect for those who follow the rules and those who put on this process. Please do not require drastic changes to be made to this process.
3. Once a player has been named “King of the Week” they do not become eligible to be nominated for “King of the Week” again until the postseason of their current sports season or the next sports season (whichever occurs first).
4. And finally, I didn't think I needed to put this out there but apparently I do. King of the Week voting is for entertainment purposes only! This is not a prize-winning contest with trophies, plaques, scholarships, or anything else. This is merely internet public opinion of which performance was better. It bears no weight in any other venue.

Get it? Good. Now take a look at this week’s crop of nominees and vote in the poll on the sidebar for the one you would like chosen as “King of the Week” presented by Ertle Brothers Discount Auto:

Ashley Atkin (Fleming) - The Wildcat continued to show her ability on the track at the Yuma Early Qualifiers last week.  Ashley took first in the 100-meter (13.01 seconds), first in the 400-meter (1:02.91) and first in the 800-meter (2:47.68).  Like last year, Atkin looks poised to do some major damage this year during the track season.

Chris Joyce (NJC) - In a dramatic 12-11 win over Trinidad State on Sunday, the freshman from Idaho was stellar.  He crushed a 2-run home run in the first inning and finished the game 2-for-3 with 3 RBIs, scoring 3 runs and stealing a base.  In addition, he robbed a grand slam in the top of the 7th preserving an opportunity for NJC to come from behind and win.  His week's stats:  4-for-11, HR, 5 RBI, 4 R, 2 SB (three games).

Kelsey Koester (Caliche) - At the Yuma Early Qualifiers, the senior showed her prep athletic career isn't quite over yet.  She took second in both the triple jump (32'6") and 100-meter (13.79) while her relay team took 4th in the 4-by-200m.

Nick Lovell (Yuma) - The Yuma Indians have continued to pound the ball early this season with Nick being one of the key figures.  Iin a 15-5 win over Holyoke last week, Lovell went 2-for-4 with a HR and a double, 5 RBIs, scoring 2 runs and stealing a base.

Trenton Ham (Haxtun) - While it's about power in some of the upper divisions, versatility is the name of the game in 1A and 2A baseball.  Trenton displayed that against Merino on Saturday.  In the first game of the doubleheader, he went 1-for-2, drew 3 walkes, stole 4 bases and scored 3 runs.  Additionally, he threw two innings of relief allowing just one hit and one run (it was unearned) while striking out two.

Congratulations to Caliche's Kelsey Koester who was named King of the Week by your votes this week!