A pair of Central Illinois athletes who played major roles in no-hitters earned another honor in winning CSM Spring Athletes of the Week. A.J. Davis of Morton baseball and Maggie Stadler of Normal U-High softball took home the crowns after earning the most votes in their respective Athlete of the Week polls.
The full list of nominees can be found here and read below for more on the winners.
Davis won CSM Boys Athlete of the Week after earning 59 percent of the total votes in the boys poll. His highlights came on both sides of the plate in a week where Morton won all four of its games, including no-hitting Pearl City in a 7-0 victory on March 30. Davis contributed two innings on the mound in the no-no while striking out two. At the plate, he went 3-for-3 with two RBIs in a 6-3 Potters win over previously undefeated McHenry on March 30 while helping his team to a 15-1 victory over Macomb on March 27 with two runs and an RBI.
Get to know Davis in a Q and A here:
What are your goals for the season?
“My goal for the season is just to have fun as it’s my last season playing baseball with my friends and I hope to make a deep postseason run to Joliet.”
What’s your favorite memory of playing your sport?
“Hitting a go-ahead home run against Washington last year.”
If you had a walk-up song, what would it be?
“My walk-up song this year is “Follow God” by Kanye West and I chose it because its catchy and I like the beat.”
Favorite food?
“My favorite food is chicken wings.”
What’s on your bucket list?
“A bucket list trip of mine is to drive through all of the west coast starting in Washington and ending in California.”
Who’s your favorite teacher at school?
“My favorite teacher was my anatomy teacher Mrs. McClure because she made her classes fun, as well as giving me good advice for the future.”
Who’s your role model and why?
“My role model is my dad because he has taught me to work hard throughout everything I do and has always pushed me to be the best version of myself.”
Stadler’s presence in the circle has been a major weapon for Normal U-High softball this season and she reached a high point in a complete game no-hitter against LaSalle-Peru on March 29. The senior struck out 14 Cavaliers batters and walked one in the 1-0 Pioneer victory. She threw another complete game in a Central State Eight Conference win over Rochester on March 27 with 11 strikeouts and two unearned runs allowed. Stader stood out on both sides of the ball in an 8-5 win over Williamsville on March 25, driving in two runs on two hits and earning the win in the circle by striking out seven in three and one-third innings out of the bullpen.
Get to know Stadler in a Q and A here:
What are your goals for the season?
“I want to make a deep run into the postseason, I know our team’s very capable of doing it and we get better every day. But most of all, I just want to have fun and enjoy what’s left of my last season at U-High.”
What’s your favorite memory of playing your sport?
“Definitely our Florida spring break trip from this year. Our team had a lot of time to get to know each other better so it made the connection and trust that we have a lot stronger. I got to see a few of my teammates get more comfortable and play how i knew they were capable of playing, so I really loved seeing their successes.
If you had a walk-up song, what would it be?
“...Ready for It? By Taylor Swift.”
Favorite food?
“Tacos or nachos.”
What’s on your bucket list?
“I really want to travel to Venice, Italy.”
Who’s your favorite teacher at school?
“My favorite teacher is my sophomore chemistry teacher Mr. Davis.”
Who’s your role model and why?
“My role model is [Stanford pitcher] NiJaree Canady, I love how she carries herself and controls the game and the confidence that she brings to the circle, especially as a young pitcher, along with the things she does outside of the game and how she gives back. She’s just a great person overall.”
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