Sophomore Presley Akins of the Trenton softball team has been named the Pavlik Orthodontics Athlete of the Week for the week of May 20 after helping lead the Tigers to a 2-0 week and the program’s first state title since 2021. 

Akins was a combined 4-for-7 at the plate and scored the game-winning run in the state semifinals and then had the game-winning RBI in the championship game for the Tigers, who won the FHSAA Class 1A state title at Legends Way Ball Fields in Clermont in dramatic fashion last Saturday. 

In the title game, she went 3-for-4 with a run scored as Trenton battled back from a 4-0 deficit in the bottom of the seventh inning and rallied past Branford, 5-4, in eight innings. 

Down to their final out in regulation, senior Jessica Johnson and Akins both singled and scored to cut the Trenton deficit to 4-3. The Tigers ended up tying the game and sending it into extra innings. 

Then, in the bottom of the 8th inning with the score tied at 4-4, Akins bunted for a base hit to give the Tigers the walk off 5-4 win. 

“Scrappy ball player who always gives 100 percent in everything she does and probably the best base runner on the team,” said Trenton softball coach Clint Anderson. “Presley makes our offense go. I think we went 20-0 on the season when Presley gets on and scores in the first inning. She can slap, bunt and swing the bat well.” 

Against Holmes County (Bonifay) in the state semifinals, with the score tied 2-2 in the bottom of the seventh, Akins led off the inning with a single to left field, putting the potential winning run on base. 

Junior Charleigh Philmon’s sacrifice bunt moved Akins to second base, and freshman pitcher Addison Allaire was intentionally walked to put two on with only one out. 

Akins scored the game-winning run on a walk off single by senior Brandy Dees for a 3-2 win to send the Tigers to the title game. 

She finished the season with a .305 batting average, was third on the team in on base percentage (.453), second with 30 runs, and led the Tigers (23-2) with 20 stolen bases. 

“She scored from second base on a passed ball against FSU High School in Tallahassee,” Anderson said. “She is always looking to grab another base if the defense isn’t paying attention. She’s a great teammate who can play anywhere in the outfield. She’s going to be fun to watch the next two years.” 

Akins is the 40^th and final athlete to be selected for the weekly award during the 2023-24 school year. 

Last week’s winner was Evan Fleming of the Buchholz track & field team. 

The future Gator won two individual FHSAA state championships, helping lead the Buchholz boys to a No. 5 finish overall. Fleming’s win in the 1600 was the first for a Buchholz boys’ athlete since 1983 and the 800 win was the first for a Buchholz boy since 1977. 

Other recent winners include Brant Bivens of the Trenton baseball team and Braylin Cook of the Gainesville softball team. 

For a link to past winners, click here.