Four home run week and shutout pair in softball lead J&C Athletes of the Week nominees

LAFAYETTE — The ball flew out of the ballpark in Fountain County while a pitcher pounded the strike zone, a volleyball player struck the ball with authority and a Twin Lakes senior finished with a top card at Tippecanoe Country Club.

Here are the six J&C Athletes of the Week candidates whose accomplishments encompass the period between April 8 and April 13.

Kacey Kirkpatrick

School: Fountain Central

Sport: Softball

Class: Senior

Team contributions: Kirkpatrick belted four home runs with nine RBI and struck out 12 batters to lead Fountain Central over North Vermillion 15-3. Kirkpatrick is batting .593 with five home runs, 15 RBI and has tossed 55 strikeouts in 33.1 innings and eight appearances.

Rylan Gick

School: Harrison

Sport: Softball

Class: Junior

Team contributions: Gick continued her torrent start in the circle to keep Harrison rolling to start spring. Gick threw 40 strikeouts in 19 innings, allowed two earned runs and threw two complete games in wins over McCutcheon last Tuesday 12-2, 7-0 over Rossville last Wednesday and 1-0 over Hamilton last Saturday. Harrison has won six straight since its season opening loss to Cathedral on April 2 and has posted three shutouts in that span.

Kaidynn Peckinpaugh

School: McCutcheon

Sport: Softball

Team contributions: Peckinpaugh pivoted McCutcheon forward with a strong performance against West Lafayette last Friday. Peckinpaugh tossed a complete game with 10 strikeouts and allowed just two earned runs to help the Mavericks pick up the win against the Red Devils 7-6.

Kevin Braxton

School: Lafayette Jeff

Sport: Volleyball

Class: Junior

Team contributions: Braxton's energy and power were key into helping Lafayette Jeff knock off its rival Harrison in four sets last Saturday. Braxton pounded home 13 kills to lead the Bronchos over the Raiders 25-17 25-21 21-25 25-20.

Jarrod Kirsch

School: North Montgomery

Sport: Baseball

Class: Senior

Team contributions: Kirsch has been the feather duster for the Chargin' Chargers since his varsity career began as a freshman. Now Kirsch is the North Montgomery all-time strikeouts leader when he threw his 233rd strikeout against Western Boone last Tuesday. Kirsch threw eight strikeouts to lead North Montgomery to victory 9-1.

Jamison Ousley

School: Twin Lakes

Sport: Golf

Class: Senior

Team contributions: Ousley struck the ball well and earned a second place finish at the Twin Lakes Invitational at Tippecanoe Country Club in Monticello last Saturday. Ousley finished the day +1. The tournament was attended by several section contending teams including Central Catholic and Faith Christian. Ousley signed a scholarship to University of Evansville last Thursday.

Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached atehanson@gannett.com, on Twitter at EthanAHansonand Instagram at ethan_a_hanson.