Vote: Des Moines Register Iowa Ortho Athletes of the Week for June 24-30

Last week saw high school baseball and softball teams from across the state continue building toward the postseason.

The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union released its regional softball pairings, and the Iowa High School Athletic Association also has released the boys district and substate baseball pairings.

Players in both sports continued to put up impressive performances on the mound, in the circle, at the bat and in the field during the week.

Here are the Des Moines Register's Iowa Ortho female and male Athlete of the Week candidates for the week of June 24-30. Register readers vote to determine the winners, who will be announced at the end of the week.

Girls

Erica Houge, Collins-Maxwell

Houge threw a masterful game in the circle for the Class 1A No. 5 Collins-Maxwell softball team during a 10-0 victory at English Valleys on June 26.

Houge fired a no-hitter with a school-record 19 strikeouts during the game. She also was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with two runs and RBIs apiece.

Kylee Thurm, Denver

Thurm put on a tremendous display of power hitting for the Denver softball team during an 11-9 victory over Wapsie Valley on June 26 at Fairbank.

Thurm smacked two home runs and drove in six runs during the Cyclone victory.

Peyton Athen, Shenandoah

Athen was brilliant in the circle for Shenandoah during a 3-0 victory over Essex on June 25 at Shenandoah.

Athen fired a one-hitter with 15 strikeouts against just three walks to pick up the shutout win.

Berkley McClish, Johnston

McClish was on point in the circle for the 5A No. 5 Johnston softball team during a 10-0 victory over No. 5 Waukee as part of a doubleheader sweep by the Dragons on June 26 at Johnston.

McClish held Waukee to five hits, and she struck out eight batters with no walks in six innings to earn the quality win.

Michaela Goad, Marion

Goad had a big day with the bat for Marion in a 15-5, 14-4 doubleheader sweep of Independence on June 24 at Independence.

Goad hit a solo home run and she walked and scored three times apiece during the 15-5 victory. In the 14-4 win, Goad went 2-for-2 with a double, homer, three walks, five runs and two RBIs.

Boys

Trever Baumler, Dowling Catholic

Baumler was fantastic on the mound for the Dowling Catholic baseball team during a 6-0 victory over 4A No. 9 Waukee Northwest on June 27 at Waukee.

Baumler fired a no-hitter with 12 strikeouts and three walks to get the shutout victory. He also was 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs to lead his team to an upset road win.

Owen Siegert, West Marshall

Siegert turned in another dominant pitching performance for the 2A No. 1 West Marshall baseball team during a 7-1 victory at Saydel on June 26.

Siegert fired a two-hitter with 18 strikeouts and just one walk for the Trojans. He also went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs at the plate.

Blake Aalbers, MOC-Floyd Valley

Aalbers had a big night hitting the ball for the MOC-Floyd Valley baseball team during an 18-2 victory over Sheldon in four innings on June 26 at Sheldon.

Aalbers went 3-for-4 with two doubles and one home run. He scored three runs and picked up eight RBIs on the night.

Dakota Clark, Lisbon

Clark gave the New London pitching staff fits during the Lisbon baseball team's thrilling 16-15 victory over the Tigers on June 27 at Lisbon.

Clark went a perfect 6-for-6 at the plate with two triples. He scored three times, stole one base and tallied six RBIs.

Evan Lorenzen, Northwood-Kensett

Lorenzen was a terror on the basepaths for the Northwood-Kensett baseball team during a 10-8 loss to Central Springs on June 24 at Northwood.

Lorenzen had seven steals for the Vikings in a losing effort. He went 2-for-2 with a double at the plate, and he scored twice and drove in one run.

The Des Moines Register's Athlete of the Week is underwritten by Iowa Ortho, which is not involved in the writing or editing of this story.

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