Faces in the Crowd

IZZY MCCURRY

ASHEVILLE, N.C. > SOFTBALL

Izzy, a senior outfielder at T.C. Roberson High, went deep twice for the Rams in a 13--1 win over Asheville High to break the state record for career home runs with 39. The previous mark of 37 was set in 2011. She has since extended her home run record to 40 and was batting .529 at week's end to help Roberson win the Mountain Athletic Conference 4A title. Izzy, who was named to the All--Western North Carolina team last year, will play for Chattanooga State.

ADAM NEFF

BRADENTON, FLA. > TENNIS

Adam, a fifth-grader who takes online courses through Alpha Omega Academy, defeated top-seeded Brandon Nakashima of San Diego 6--1, 6--4 for the USTA 12-and-under title at the national spring championships in Delray Beach, Fla. The win earned him a trip to Paris in May to represent the U.S. at the French Open's Longines Future Tennis Aces competition. Adam, who didn't drop a set in his seven-round run to the title, is ranked No. 1 in his age group by the USTA.

OLIVIA BAKER

MAPLEWOOD, N.J. > TRACK AND FIELD

Olivia, a junior at Columbia High, was named the outstanding girls' relay athlete at the 119th Penn Relays in Philadelphia. She ran a 2:09.9 anchor leg to rally the Cougars from a six-second deficit in the 4 √ó 800, edging the three-time defending champions, Edwin Allen High of Jamaica. Columbia's time of 8:56.37 was the third fastest in New Jersey history and the top high school finish in the nation this season. Olivia also ran a 53.5 to anchor Columbia's fourth-place 4 √ó 400 team (3:42.49).

CHRIS MADDEN

COPPELL, TEXAS > SOCCER

Chris, a junior forward at Coppell High, scored the game-winning goal with 52 seconds left in double overtime to lead the Cowboys to the second 5A state title in program history with a 3--2 win over Hanna High (Brownsville). In the 76th minute, with Coppell down 2--1, he also netted a 22-yard free kick that grazed the crossbar to send the game to overtime. Chris, who had 16 goals and led District 5-5A in scoring, was named the state tournament MVP and the Dallas area player of the year.

ARIA OTTMUELLER

CHANDLER, ARIZ. > TRACK AND FIELD

Aria, a junior pole vaulter at Valley Christian High who was born blind due to a condition called optic nerve hypoplasia, cleared 6'7" at the Chandler city championships, her second time vaulting in competition, to qualify for the Division IV state meet. Five days later she cleared a personal best 7 feet to finish third at the Southeast Valley championships. Aria, who previously competed as a distance runner for the Trojans, has 20--400 vision and relies on counting the steps in her approach to the pit.

DIEGO ESTRADA

SALINAS, CALIF. > TRACK AND FIELD

Estrada, a senior at Northern Arizona, ran the 5,000 meters in 13:15.33 at the Payton Jordan Invitational in Palo Alto, Calif., for the second-fastest time in NCAA history and a Big Sky Conference record. In eighth place with three laps to go, he picked off five runners to finish third, a second behind two noncollegiate runners: Ben True, the top American at this year's cross-country worlds, and Olympic steeplechaser Evan Jager. Estrada represented Mexico in the 10,000 meters at the London Olympics.

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SIGN OF THE APOCALYPSE

In the handshake line after the Florida high school water polo state championship match, a player from losing Belen Jesuit (Miami) shoved a player from St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) into the pool.

GO FIGURE

36

Total free throws made by the Celtics, out of 36 attempts, in games 1 and 5 of their first-round series against the Knicks, making Boston the first team ever to be perfect from the line more than once in the same postseason.

12

Age of Chinese amateur golfer Ye Wocheng, who became the youngest player to compete in a European Tour event at the China Open, where he shot 14 over par and missed the cut.

79%

Respondents in a nationwide Associated Press--GfK poll who said that the Washington Redskins should keep their nickname.

3

Games in MLB history in which both teams struck out at least 18 times after the Tigers and the Astros each had that many last Thursday in a 14-inning, 7--3 Detroit win.

2

Games this season in which both teams struck out at least 18 times—on April 7, the Tigers had 21 and the Mariners had 19 in a 14-inning, 2--1 Detroit win.

PHOTO

ARTEM IVANOV/FOTOLIA.COM (BALL)

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KAT SIZEMORE/GOLDEN FLEECE MEDIA (MCCURRY)

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LANCE LUCIANI (NEFF)

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COURTESY OF THE BAKER FAMILY (BAKER)

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JANET HIGGINS (MADDEN)

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BRYAN WINFREY/VALLEY CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL (OTTMUELLER)

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MATTHEW SEWELL/NAU MEDIA RELATIONS (ESTRADA)