Top Performers: Metro-east high school athletes of the week

BRADLEY HARRISON

Harrison has combined with teammate Chris Holba to provide lights-out pitching throughout the playoffs. On Saturday he blanked Minooka 6-0 on a two-hit shutout with 12 strikeouts as O’Fallon won the Class 4A Bloomington Sectional. Earlier in the week the Southern Illinois University Carbondale recruit threw a five-inning no-hitter against Belleville East during a 10-0 regional championship game victory, striking out four and also going 3-for-3 at the plate with two doubles and five RBIs.

CHRIS HOLBA

In one of his top pitching performances this season, the Division I East Carolina recruit took a no-hitter into the fifth inning Wednesday and shut down Edwardsville 3-1 on a two-hitter with seven strikeouts. The win came in the semifinals of the Class 4A Bloomington Sectional and Holba (8-2) was dominant throughout.

MACI INGRAM

The senior pitcher and McKendree recruit helped deliver a Class 2A state championship for Nashville with nearly flawless pitching at the state tournament. Ingram tossed a two-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts Friday in the Hornettes’ 4-0 semifinal win over St. Joseph-Ogden, then took a perfect game into the seventh inning and finished with a three-hitter in Nashville’s thrilling 1-0, 11-inning win over Brimfield that nailed down the state title. Ingram was one of the top pitchers in Southern Illinois throughout her career and was part of two state championship teams and a third-place finisher.

BRENDAN KILLION

The talented junior right-hander took a no-hitter into the fifth inning Friday against Okaw Valley at the Class 1A state tournament, eventually allowing only four hits with five strikeouts. The 5-3 semifinal victory got the Rockets into the state championship game and Killion (9-3) was one of Okawville’s top pitchers throughout the playoffs.

TYLER KIMMLE

Kimmle kept the Highland Bulldogs alive in the Class 3A playoffs with an RBI single in the ninth inning Saturday that was the game-winning hit in a 6-5 regional championship win over Mount Vernon. Kimmle had two hits in the game and also picked up the pitching win in relief, allowing three hits in 2 2/3 innings with three strikeouts.

MACKENZIE McFERON

McFeron permanently etched her name into Nashville school history Saturday. She stole second base following a bunt single in the 11th inning, then circled the bases and scored on a wild pitch to give the Hornettes a 1-0 win over Brimfield in the Class 2A state championship game.

NICK STRUBHART

Taking over in relief with Okawville losing to Concord Triopia in the Class 1A Sprinfield Super-Sectional game Tuesday, Strubhart retired all 13 hitters he faced without allowing a hit or a walk as the Rockets came from behind to win 5-3.

This story was originally published June 8, 2015 at 9:23 PM with the headline "Top Performers: Metro-east high school athletes of the week."