ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

Chris Wallace

School: Advance

Class: Junior

Sport: Baseball

Position: Third Base-Pitcher

Coach: Chuck Powers

Week report: After starting the week 0-for-3 in a 3-1 win over Puxico, Wallace got seven hits in his final seven at-bats to end the week with a .700 batting average and 11 RBIs. In Thursday's 17-2 rout of Bell City, Wallace was 4-for-4 with two home runs (one a grand slam) and six RBIs. He also pitched five innings for the win. Friday he totaled five RBIs, ripping a single, double and triple in a 12-1 win on the fenceless outfield at Delta. Advance completed the week with a 7-2 record.

On the season: Batting in the clean-up slot, Wallace leads the Hornets with a .536 batting average (15-for-28), 20 RBIs, four home runs and a remarkable slugging percentage of 1.179. Wallace is also one of the Hornets' top pitchers with a 4-1 record and 2.00 earned run average. The right-hander is in his third year as a varsity starter.

Coach's comments: "With only three seniors on the team, Chris is one of our veterans. He's a good team-orientated player and has a great attitude about the game. He works a lot on his own, trying to improve his game and it's starting to pay off."

Tobie Bittle

School: Cape Central

Class: Senior

Sport: Track

Events: 400, 800 meters and relays

Coach: Jerry Dement

Week report: Bittle was a part of three winning relay teams Saturday during the Cape Relays, running the mile-leg on the distance medley team that demolished the old meet record by 19 seconds. Bittle's 3200 and 1600 relay teams also claimed Cape Relay titles. In a dual meet at Poplar Bluff, Bittle won the 400 meters and was on the winning 800 relay team.

On the season: Bittle's been unbeatable this season, winning every individual and relay event she's competed in. A three-time state-qualifier in the 800 meters, Bittle holds Central's school-record in that event. She's also a member of two school-record relay teams in the 4x400 and 4x800 meters. Bittle was also a member of the 4x400 team that won state in 1996.

Coach's comments: "Tobie's had a terrific tenure here at Cape Central and the reason is she's an extremely hard-worker and extremely coachable. She's very dedicated and is a top-notch student. She's a super young lady with a great attitude."