Week 14 of our 2023 National High School Player of the Week series for the Spring fastpitch season sees clutch performances, especially in state softball playoffs, as the season gets closer to finishing as the summer approaches.
Each week until the end of the Spring high school, we’ll honor top performances nationwide; if you’d like to have a player considered, scroll down to see how to fill out a nomination.
Games are for Sunday, May 7, 2023, through Saturday, May 13, 2023…
Note also that these players having great weeks will also be in consideration for our Extra Inning Softball All-American Teams to be released later this year!
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Extra Inning Softball’s National High School Player of the Week
* Sydney Vitangcol, a sophomore lefty pitcher and first baseman for Wisconsin Lutheran High (“Wisco”) in Milwaukee, Wisc., was in the zone last week as she pitched 34.2 innings in five games and had 74 strikeouts while only giving up one run, five hits, and three walks.
She threw three seven-inning no-hitters—let us repeat that stat: three seven-inning no-hitters—including a back-to-back perfect game on Friday (a 4-0 win vs. Pius XI Catholic) and no-hitter on Saturday (a 6-0 win vs. Brookfield East).
Sydney also got it done at the plate, hitting second in the lineup she went 11-for-14 in 18 plate appearances (a .786 batting average), including a double, two triples, a home run, four walks (including an intentional walk), nine runs scored and four RBIs.
One other highlight of the week: the Saturday no-hitter was also accomplished on her birthday!
Here’s a recap of her amazing week…
Game 1
In her first no-hitter of the week on Tuesday (a 4-0 win vs. Greendale)—the first game of a doubleheader—Sydney tied the state record of 22 strikeouts in a seven-inning game that was previously set by Northwestern commit Riley Grudzielanek on April 4, 2022.
She also went 3-for-4 at the plate with a triple, an RBI and a run scored.
Game 2
In the second game of the doubleheader vs. Greendale, Sydney started the game in left field, but Wisco fell behind 4-0 in the top of the 1st inning, so she pitched 6.2 innings in relief and gave up one run (the only run she gave up all week), two hits, and a walk, while adding 14 more strikeouts for a total of 36 strikeouts in the doubleheader, which also gave her 400 high school career strikeouts.
At the plate, she helped Wisco’s comeback to get the 6-5 walk-off win by going 3-for-4 with an RBI, scored two runs, and was intentionally walked in the bottom of the 7th inning with the winning run on second base and two outs.
Game 3
On Thursday, Wisco had a crucial conference home matchup with New Berlin Eisenhower (“Ike”). Ike has been ranked in the WFSCA/WisSports.net Softball Coaches Poll all season and was #4 in Division 2 heading into the matchup.
Ike was also unbeaten in Woodland West conference play and had previously beaten Wisco 4-2, so Wisco needed a win to keep its conference title hopes alive.
With the game still scoreless in the bottom of the 5th inning, Sydney hit a two-run home run to dead center and, in the circle, pitched a three-hit shutout with 13 strikeouts and no walks in the 3-0 win.
Offensively, the two-way standout went 1-for-2 with a walk, and the home run and the pair RBIs.
Game 4
On Friday, in the 4-0 conference home win vs. Pius XI Catholic, Sydney had 15 strikeouts while pitching her first-ever perfect game.
At the plate, Sydney went 2-for-2 with a walk, a double, a triple, and three runs scored.
Game 5
On Saturday, a 6-0 non-conference home win against Brookfield East, Vitangcol had 10 strikeouts in her second consecutive no-hitter, allowing the only runner to reach base on a walk.
At the plate, the Class of 2025 star went 2-for-2 with a walk and two runs scored.
For the week:
Overall, Sydney had the 74 K’s versus just three walks in 34.2 innings while recording a 0.20 ERA, a 0.23 WHIP. With the stick, she hit .786 with a .833 on-base percentage and had a 2.190 OPS.
Extra Inning Softball asked Sydney what she attributes to her great results this year. In a word, it’s preparation.
“I think it’s how I prepare before games,” she explained. “I usually study film and learn what to throw against opposing teams. Another thing I have is the ability to adjust in the middle of games to what is working and what is not.”
And the athlete is quick to give credit to her team, too.
“I am very thankful that one of my teammates tracks pitches for me so that I can look over it in between innings,” Sydney finishes. “However, I am also very confident that if I don’t strike out a batter, my defense behind me will back me up.”
Here is a video clip of the week for Wisconsin Lutheran including many of Sydney’s key plays:
For the 2023 season so far, Sydney has 191 K’s in 85.2 innings versus just 12 walks (striking out 64% of all batters faced) with a 0.57 ERA, a 0.41 WHIP. On offense, she has a .660 batting average with a .719 on-base percentage with two home runs, eight doubles, two triples, 28 runs scored and 17 RBIs.
In her high school career, the athlete has reached base safely (hit or walk) in all 37 games she has played (15 games this season and 22 games as a freshman starter on varsity) and has a hit in all but two games (one game this season and one game last season).
As a freshman starter on varsity, she garnered 1st Team All-State, First-Team All-District, the Woodland West Conference Player of the Year, and First-Team All-Conference honors, and helped Wisco make it to its first state semifinal game since becoming a part of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) in 2000, and its first conference title since joining the Woodland West conference in 2017.
Similar to this season, Sydney led the team with her pitching, breaking the school strikeout record set in 2000 with 247 strikeouts in 113.2 innings and had a 0.80 ERA. Sydney was also atop almost every offensive category as a freshman (primarily as the second hitter in the lineup) with a .575 batting average, a .640 on-base percentage and 28 RBIs.
Sydney attended winter camps and clinics at Creighton, Wisconsin, Northern Iowa, Akron, Northwestern, Michigan, Toledo, and Notre Dame and, off the field, has a 4.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) while taking advanced classes including Honors Algebra 2, Honors Trigonometry, Honors Chemistry, and Spanish 3 this year.
Head Coach Gina Radue adds:
“Sydney has played a huge roll in our team’s success, both in the circle and at the plate. She has an incredible ability to get on base and drive in runs. Sydney’s positive presence and encouraging personality are a joy to coach and I’m excited to see what she and the rest of the team can accomplish together in the weeks to come.
This is her second season as a member of the Indiana Magic Gold 07 National Neace/Kleiner team for travel ball, joining after spending the previous four seasons with Wisconsin Lightning.
Last fall for the Magic Gold, she batted .414 with a .460 on-base percentage and drove in 21 runs. On the mound, Sydney had 65 strikeouts with a 2.42 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP.
— Brentt Eads, Extra Inning Softball
*** Scroll down to read about more outstanding performances across the nation in high school softball last week!
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Nomination Process
Each week during the spring and summer high school seasons, Extra Inning Softball honors a National High School Player of the Week.
Honoree are announced every Tuesday; cutoff for submitting the nominations is each Monday at noon EST/9 am PST.
We’re looking for standouts who excelled in the circle, at the plate or in the field so be sure to nominate your favorite performance(s) by submitting the following:
- Player Name
- Grad Year (example: Class of 2023 or Senior)
- Position(s)
- High school team name with city/state
- Stats for the week (be as detailed as possible!)
- Up-to-date season stats if possible
- Recruiting information if applicable
- Any interesting background on the player
- Action and/or head shots
- If possible, contact info if we’d like more info or quotes
Email info and photos (1-4 as available) by the cutoff of Monday at noon EST/9 am PST to: info@extrainningsoftball.com.
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Previous 2023 Extra Inning Softball National High School Players of the Week
- May 2: P Kaitlyn Pallozzi P (Mercy, Farmington Hill, Mich.
- Apr. 25: P Makenzie Freeman P/IF (Hackett, Ark.)
- Apr. 18: P/UT Mallie West (New Waverly, Texas)
- Apr. 11: OF Cassidy McLellan (Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton, Fla.)
- Apr. 4: P/UT Julia Shearer (North Penn, Lansdale, Pa.)
- Mar. 28: SS Ashlynn Campbell (Wetumpka, Ala.)
- Mar. 21: 1B Madilynn George (Rouse, Leander, Texas)
- Mar. 14: OF Aniya Merritt (Lumberton, N.C.)
- Mar. 7 (tie): P Jazzy Francik (Melbourne, Fla.) & P Julie Kelley (Spruce Creek, Port Orange, Fla.)
- Feb. 28: P Jayden Heavener (Pace, Fla.)
- Feb. 21: P/SS Lexie Warncke (East Bernard, Texas)
- Feb. 13: OF Gigi Ganje (Aliso Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Calif.)
Extra Inning Softball National High School Players of the Week (Prior to 2023)
2022
- June 14: P Courtney Layne (Appomattox County, Appomattox, Virginia)
- June 7: SS Graciela Dominguez (James Madison, Vienna, Virginia)
- May 31: 1B Macee Eaton (Wheelersburg, Ohio)
- May 24: P Karyln Pickens (North Buncombe, Weaverville, North Carolina)
- May 17: P Keagan Rothrock (Roncalli, Indianapolis, Indiana)
- May 10: SS Teagan Thrunk (Point Pleasant Boro, Point Pleasant, New Jersey)
- May 3: SS Abby Hornberger (Regina, Warren, Michigan)
- Apr. 26: OF Cassidy McLellan (Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton, Florida)
- Apr. 19: P/UT Madison Knight (Patterson Mill, Bel Air, Maryland)
- Apr. 12: OF Chelsea Mack (Brecksville, Ohio)
- Apr. 5: P/IF Madison Inscoe (Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, Suffolk, Virginia)
- Mar. 29: P Rose Malen (Marin Catholic, Kentfield, Calif.)
- Mar 22: P Katie Kutz (Bishop O’Connell, Arlington, Virginia)
- Mar. 15: IF Tanya Windle (Cactus, Glendale, Arizona)
- Mar. 8: P Jayden Nishi (South, Torrance, California)
- Mar. 1: P Marissa McCann (Willow Canyon, Surprise, Arizona)
- Feb. 22: 1B Sydney Lewis (Prosper, Texas)
2021
- June 15: P Eden Bingham(Rustburg, Virginia)
- June 8: P Lauren Derkowski (York, Elmhurst, Illinois)
- June 1: SS Shayne Immke (St. Joseph-Ogden, St. Joseph, Illinois)
- May 25: OF Cassidy McLellan (Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton, Florida)
- May 18: IF Abby Ota (Joel Barlow (Redding, Connecticut)
- May 11: IF Kali Heivilin (Three Rivers, Michigan)
- May 4: P Maya Johnson (St. Joseph Academy, Cleveland, Ohio)
- Apr. 27: P/UT Karlyn Pickens (North Buncombe, Weaverville, North Carolina)
- Apr. 20: P/IF Madison Inscoe (Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, Suffolk, Virginia)
- Apr. 13: P Keagan Rothrock (Roncalli, Indianapolis, Indiana)
- Apr. 6: C Jayla Castro (Rocklin, California)
- Mar. 30: SS Brooke Blankenship (River Ridge, New Port Richey, Florida)
- Mar. 23: SS Rylee Cloud (Fairview, Grant, Louisiana)
- Mar. 16: IF Jenna Madison (Curry, Jasper, Alabama)
- Mar. 9: P/IF Annabelle Widra (Spain Park, Hoover, Alabama)
- Mar. 2: C/3B Elizabeth Moffitt (Prosper, Texas)
2020
- Season cancelled in March due to COVID-19 pandemic
- Mar. 17: P Kenzi Lyall (Alleghany, Sparta, North Carolina)
- Mar. 10: C Maci Bergeron (Notre Dame, Crowley, Louisiana)
- Mar. 3: IF Jayda Coleman (The Colony, Texas)
- Feb. 26: IF/P Micaela Wark (Reedy, Frisco, Texas)
2019
- Jun. 10: P/1B Sydney Supple (North, Oshkosh, Wisconsin)
- May 27: P Aynslie Furbush (Winter Springs, Florida)
- May 20: SS Bailey Dowling (St. Joseph-Ogden, St. Joseph, Illinois)
- May 13: P Britton Rogers (Cypress Ranch, Cypress, Texas)
- May 6: C Neely Peterson (Cypress Creek Middle, Wesley Chapel, Florida)
- Apr. 29: OF/IF/P Angela Zedak (Marist, Chicago, Illinois)
- Apr. 22: SS Kali Heivilin (Three Rivers, Michigan)
- Apr. 15: 3B Trinity Cannon (Forney, Texas)
- Apr. 8: P/1B Sydney Supple (North, Oshkosh, Wisconsin)
- Apr. 1: OF Leea Hanks (Eustis, Florida)
- Mar. 25: P/IF Madison Inscoe (Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, Suffolk, Virginia)
- Mar. 18: 1B/OF Avery Goelz (Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton, Florida)
- Mar. 11: OF/2B Tanya Windle (Cactus, Glendale, Arizona)
- Mar. 4: SS Hallie Wacaser (Bentonville West, Centerton, Arkansas)
- Feb. 25: P Stevie Hansen (Norco, California)
2018
- May 27: P Lexi Kilfoyl (Academy at the Lakes, Land O’ Lakes, Florida)
- May 20: P Ashley Rogers (Meigs County, Decatur, Tennessee)
- May 13 (tie): P Sydney Supple (Oshkosh North, Oshkosh, Wisconsin)
- May 13 (tie): OF Lexi Voss (Marist, Chicago, Illinois)
- May 6: P Danielle Williams (Amador Valley, Pleasanton, California)
- April 29: P Montana Fouts (East Carter, Grayson, Kentucky)
- April 22: IF Kasey Simpson (Keller, Texas)
- April 15: SS Jayda Coleman (The Colony, Texas)
- April 8: P Megan Faraimo (Cathedral Catholic, San Diego, California)
- April 1: C Macy Simmons (Hamilton, Chandler, Arizona)
- March 25: C Paige Pfent (Springstead, Spring Hill, Florida)
- March 18: SS/OF Deja Westbrook (Arcadia, California)
- March 11: P Megan Faraimo (Cathedral Catholic, San Diego, California)
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