ATHLETES OF THE WEEK: PC's Puga, LB's Spanninger lead the way

ALEXIS PUGA

Port Charlotte softball, senior

Want to hear something neat? Since signing her letter of intent to play softball next year at Hillsborough Community College on April 5, Puga has batted .409 with three doubles and two home runs.

Two of those doubles and both home runs came this past week during the Pirates’ three-game week against Oasis, Hardee and Bonita Springs. For the season, Puga is batting .372 with a 1.038 OPS and 17 runs batted in, all second on the team to Jaylin Pinedo.

LANDON SPANNINGER

Lemon Bay weightlifting, senior

How dominant Spanninger was this past weekend during the Olympic competition of the Class 2A weightlifting state championships?

Spanninger’s first snatch attempt came at 240 pounds, which was the last successful lift by any of his competitors. He went on to set a state record with a 265-pound lift and kicked himself for not doing 270, instead.

His first clean was at 305 pounds, which eliminated all but one opponent, whom he dispatched a short while later with 320 pounds. All in a day’s work for a 3-time state champ.