Neil DeNicola’s run of homers in consecutive games ended Thursday. Courier-Journal photo by John Sommers
Neil DeNicola did something unusual Thursday. He didn’t homer.
In his five previous games, the Atherton (Louisville) senior homered, tying a state record set by Aric Burkhart of Madison Central (Richmond) in 1993. Thursday night, against Pleasure Ridge Park (Louisville), the streak ended, as he went 0-for-2.
“It feels good, obviously, to tie a state record, but it wasn’t my goal to hit home runs,” DeNicola told Jason Frakes of the Louisville Courier-Journal. “I just try to hit it where it’s pitched, and I’ve gotten pitches to put over the fence.”
His streak began April 15 with a homer in an 8-5 loss at LaRue County (Hodgenville). Then, last Thursday, in a 4-2 loss to Ballard (Louisville), he homered again. Last Friday, he homered in a 13-3 defeat of Jeffersontown (Louisville). The final homer came in an 8-2 win at Waggener Traditional (Louisville).
DeNicola’s five consecutive homers is the American Family Insurance ALL-USA Performance of the Week. The rest of the top performances:
Cassidy Doster, lacrosse, LaFayette, Onondaga, N.Y.
Senior midfielder, a Massachusetts signee, had six goals and three assists in a 15-10 defeat of Jordan-Elbridge (Jordan) on Thursday.
Chesdin Harrington, baseball, Patrick Henry, Ashland, Va.
Virginia signee struck out 14 and threw a no-hitter in a 6-0 defeat of Mills Godwin last Friday and was just two batters away from a perfect game. He also was 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Matthew Maton, track and field, Summit, Bend, Ore.
Senior ran the 1,500 meters in the Oregon Relays last Friday in 3:42.54, the third-best time ever for a high school runner.
Leonel Perez, baseball, Palmview, Mission, Texas
Sophomore threw a 12-strikeout no-hitter Tuesday in a 9-0 defeat of Juarez-Lincoln (Mission).
Marlo Roadcap, softball, Millersburg, Pa.
Senior threw a no-hitter with 14 strikeouts in a 8-0 defeat of Line Mountain (Herndon, Pa.) on Thursday.
Justin Torres, baseball, Springfield High School of Science and Technology, Springfield, Mass.
Senior went 5-for-5 with two singles, a double, a triple, a homer, drove in eight runs and stole six bases in an 18-15 loss to Holyoke Catholic (Chicopee) on Wednesday.
Jacob Weirich, baseball, Jefferson City, Mo.
Sophomore threw an 11-strikeout perfect game in a 3-0 defeat of Helias Catholic (Jefferson City) last Friday.
Ryan Zwier, baseball, Christ School, Arden, N.C.
Junior third baseman went 4-for-4 with six RBI, hitting for the cycle, including a grand slam, in a 13-0 defeat of the Asheville School last Friday.