DARKE COUNTY – Two athletes who have had record-setting performances this season are this week’s Daily Advocate’s athletes of the week.
This week’s Daily Advocate athletes of the week are Ansonia softball player Trinity Henderson and Tri-Village baseball player Jared Buckley.
Henderson tied an Ansonia school record when she struck out 17 batters in a 5-1 victory against Tri-Village on Monday.
“Trinity has been so consistent all year pitching,” Ansonia softball coach Floyd Jenkins said. “She works very hard on the mound in bad weather or good.”
The outing against Tri-Village was just another strong performance from the Ansonia junior.
She held Franklin Monroe to just three hits and held Coldwater to five hits. She also posted a shutout victory against Winchester.
In a four-game stretch, Henderson had 46 strikeouts for the Tigers.
“I feel she one of the best in the league and area,” Jenkins said.
Along with being a skilled pitcher, Henderson has excelled offensively, too.
She’s hitting .426 this season, and in Cross County Conference action is hitting better than .600.
“She’s our leadoff hitter and is one of best offensive players for us,” Jenkins said.
In addition to being a great player, Henderson also has provided leadership for her team.
“She’s been a leader on and off the field,” Jenkins said.
Buckley has been hot at the plate this season for Tri-Village as he leads the Patriots with a .444 average and 14 RBIs, both of which put him among the leaders in the Darke County.
“He’s had a really good senior year. He’s hit from the three spot for us all year,” Tri-Village baseball coach Jim Maples said. “We count on him to drive in runs.”
The Tri-Village senior also excels on defense as the Patriot center fielder.
“He’s an outstanding center field,” Maples said. “We’ve had some really good center fielders come through here throughout the years, but Jared, man, he’s exceptional out there.
“Any ball that’s in the air we just take for granted that he’s going to catch it.”
Buckley has a strong arm, which has allowed him to throw out several base runners from the outfield. He also has exceptional speed that allows him to chase down balls.
“The boy’s just got explosive speed,” Maples said.
Buckley’s speed was on display in a game against Covington when he stole seven bases, which was a school record and just one off the Ohio High School Athletic Association record of eight by Genoa’s Thomas Cooley and Sheffield Brookside’s Steve Schue.
“When you’re on the state record board, that’s a phenomenal feat wherever you’re at,” Maples said.
For the season Buckley leads his team in stolen bases.
“He’s got the green light to go at any time, and he takes advantage of those opportunities,” Maples said.
