Haig-Taylor, Wnuk Named Athletes of the Week
Many of the area's high school teams begin the final phase of the spring season this week as they open state tournament play.
A few of those teams do so with the momentum of a Western Massachusetts Championship, and this week's iBershires.com/Bedard Bros. Athletes of the Week were key contributors on two of those title teams.
Mount Greylock Regional School ninth-grader Tanner Haig-Taylor has been a multiple-goal scorer for the Mounties right from their season debut, when he had a hat trick against McCann Tech.
He also had four assists that day back in March, and his full offensive impact again was on display in Friday's Western Mass final, when Haig-Taylor scored three times and set up three goals in a 16-14 win over two-time defending champion Hoosac Valley.
"That kid is a star," said Mount Greylock senior Brady Auger, who was on the receiving end of two Haig-Taylor assists on back-to-back goals in a key second-quarter sequence Friday night.
"He is a freshman, but he can really, really ball. I mean, he's young, he's fast, he's quick, he can dodge, he can change direction, he can put the ball in the net when we need it, and he can find me. I mean, me and that kid have a connection, and we just find each other all the time on the field."
Friday's win gave Mount Greylock a 16-1 record, and the team went into the regional final as the No. 26-ranked team in the commonwealth in Division 4.
The boys lacrosse state tournament brackets are set to be released on Wednesday.
That same day, the Hoosac Valley softball team will learn its seed in the upcoming D5 State Tournament.
Senior Rachael Wnuk has received a lot of attention as part of a murderer's row of hitters for the unbeaten Hurricanes -- and justifably so. She is hitting .514 with seven home runs this spring.
In Saturday's Western Mass Class D Championship Game win over Monson, Wnuk's defensive prowess behind -- and in front of -- the dish was on full display.
In the top of the third, she fired the ball behind a runner to Tart at third to start a 2-5-2 pickoff play that ended the inning. In the fifth, Wnuk popped up to make a diving play on a short fly in fair territory.
Wnuk's longtime battery mate said the two classmates have a strong connection at the heart of a Hoosac defense that has allowed just seven runs in its last five games.
"Me and Rachael actually work wicked well together," Hoosac Valley pitcher Gracelyn Wright said. "We have a good friendship out of school and in softball and all that, and we've been working for this moment together.
"We understand each other. She knows my pitches. She knows where to place me. She knows how to lift me up. I was so proud of her today because it reminded me of last year when I made a diving catch, and this year it was here. I was so proud of her that she made this diving play."
Wnuk also drove in three runs in Saturday's win, which ran Hoosac Valley's record to 19-0 this spring.
The iBerkshires.com Athlete of the Week is sponsored by Bedard Bros.