Bay Area News Group girls high school athlete of the week: Sami Bianchi, Wilcox softball

Wilcox softball player Sami Bianchi has been named the Bay Area News Group’s girls high school athlete of the week for March 20-25 after she received 35.79% of the vote at the 5 p.m. deadline Wednesday.

Gilroy softball player Xochitl Garcia (32.58%) placed second and Carondelet track and field standout Brianna Meredith finished third.

Congratulations to all the candidates for this week’s recognition.

Bianchi made the most of her one hit against Mountain View, sending the ball over the wall for her first home run of the season. The two-run blast helped Wilcox secure a 10-6 victory.

To nominate an athlete for next week’s poll, email [email protected] by Monday, April 3, at 11 a.m. Please include stats and team results.

We also review stats submitted to MaxPreps.com by coaches/team statisticians for consideration.

Winners are announced each Friday on the Mercury News & East Bay Times websites and, starting Sept. 30, in the print edition of the Mercury News and EB Times sports sections.

Past winners

March 13-18: Camryn Manning-Alarcon, Leigh softball

March 6-11: Jenna Balousek and Morgan Overton

Feb. 26-March 4: Ruiqi Liu, Menlo School basketball

Feb. 20-25: Michelle Tang, Mills basketball

Feb. 13-18: Mikayla Garcia, James Logan wrestling

Feb. 6-11: Alli Dioli, Half Moon Bay basketball

Jan. 30 to Feb. 4: Quinn Godfrey, Branham basketball

Jan. 13-28: India Bowles, Archbishop Riordan soccer