Vote: Ames Tribune Athlete of the Week for July 15-21

Last week saw the Collins-Maxwell softball team qualify for state.

The Class 1A No. 5 Spartans are headed to state for the fourth time in program history, and the first time since 2020 after defeating No. 11 Earlham, 4-1, in the 1A Region 3 final on July 16 at Collins.

The Ames softball team fell one win shy of reaching state for the third year in a row. The Little Cyclones saw their season end with a 12-0 loss to No. 1 West Des Moines Valley in the 5A Region 1 championship game July 16 at West Des Moines.

The Gilbert softball and baseball teams both fell one win shy of state.

The Tiger softball team suffered a 7-1 loss at the hands of No. 1 North Polk in the 4A Region 2 championship game July 16 at Alleman. The Gilbert baseball team made a surprise run to the substate finals, upsetting Saydel by a 4-1 score in the 3A Substate 6 semifinals on July 16 at Saydel, then falling to No. 2 Marion by a 3-0 score in the substate finals July 17 at Marion.

The Roland-Story baseball team also came up short in substate final play. The Norsemen were dealt a 2-1 loss to Aplington-Parkersburg in the 2A Substate 2 championship game July 16 at Marshalltown.

Here are the Ames Tribune's Athlete of the Week candidates for the week of July 15-21. AmesTrib.com readers vote to determine the winner, who will be announced at the end of the week.

Erica Houge, Collins-Maxwell

Houge was the winning pitcher for the Collins-Maxwell softball team during its win over Earlham in the 1A Region 3 championship game.

Houge gave up just one run on three hits, and she piled up 14 strikeouts against just one walk in seven innings. Houge added a single and an RBI on offense for the Spartans.

Tommy McGuire, Gilbert

McGuire threw a strong game on the mound for the Gilbert baseball team during its 3A Substate 6 semifinal victory over Saydel.

McGuire held the Eagles to one run on six hits and two walks, and he finished with four strikeouts in seven innings. McGuire also had one single on offense.

Tovaria Smith, Gilbert

Smith drove in the only run for the Gilbert softball team during its 4A Region 2 title game loss to No. 1 North Polk.

Smith was 1-for-3 with an RBI and a steal. She made three putouts and two assists with no errors in the field at second base.

Brett Schmitz, Roland-Story

Schmitz reached base three of the four times he went to the plate during the Roland-Story baseball team's 2A Substate 2 loss to Aplington-Parkersburg.

Schmitz went 2-for-3 with a pair of singles, and he also walked once.

Katie Riesselman, Ames

Riesselman was a bright spot for the Ames softball team during its 5A Region 1 final loss to No. 1 Valley.

Riesselman singled in the final at-bat of her career during the second inning to prevent Valley pitcher Alexa Stevermer from throwing a perfect game.

Joe Randleman covers high school sports for the Ames Tribune. Contact him at jrandleman@gannett.com . Follow him on Twitter at @JoeRandleman

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Vote: Ames Tribune Athlete of the Week for July 15-21