Bay Area News Group boys athlete of the week: Luke Baker, San Ramon Valley baseball

The junior hit a two-run homer to give the Wolves the lead in the EBAL title game.

NEW: PREP SPORTS MAILBAG

The Bay Area News Group is introducing a high school sports mailbag in May. Get your questions in as soon as possible. Our debut edition is an open forum. Got questions about spring sports playoffs, coaching changes, an early peek at football season, etc.? Send questions to highschools@bayareanewsgroup.com. Please include “mailbag” in the subject line.

San Ramon Valley baseball player Luke Baker is the Bay Area News Group’s high school boys athlete of the week for May 8-13 after he received 46.88% of the vote at the 5 p.m. deadline Wednesday.

Live Oak baseball player Landon Stump (31.56%) placed second and Gilroy baseball player Quinn Larson was third.

Congratulations to all the candidates for this week’s recognition.

With his team four outs from defeat in the East Bay Athletic League championship game at home against Granada, the junior hit a two-run homer to give the Wolves the lead. SRV eventually won in nine innings, 3-2. Baker finished the game 2 for 4.

To nominate an athlete for next week’s poll, email highschools@bayareanewsgroup.com by Monday, May 22, at 11 a.m. Please include stats and team results.

We also review stats submitted to MaxPreps.com by coaches/team statisticians for consideration.

Winners are announced each Friday on the Mercury News & East Bay Times websites and, starting Sept. 30, in the print edition of the Mercury News and EB Times sports sections.

Past winners

May 1-6: Matthew Foley, Amador Valley baseball

April 24-29: David Colon, Castro Valley baseball

April 17-22: Eric Yun, Menlo School golf

April 10-15: Asher Friedman, Palo Alto lacrosse

April 3-8: Lucas Dennis, Saratoga baseball

Mar. 27-April 1: Josiah Rodriguez, Serra baseball 

March 20-25: Cyrus Ahmad, Washington-Fremont tennis

March 13-18: Derek Hoffmann, Monte Vista lacrosse

March 6-11: Christian Preciado and Michael Castaneda

Feb. 26-March 4: Amani Johnson, Salesian basketball

Feb. 20-25: Parker Lunn, Mountain View soccer

Feb. 13-18: Daniel Schembri, Sequoia soccer

Feb. 6-11: Bryce Luna, St. Francis wrestling

Jan. 30-Feb. 4: Nathan Yousif, Silver Creek soccer

Jan. 23-28: Joseph Bangalan, Piedmont Hills basketball

Jan. 16-21: James Wong, Benicia basketball

Jan. 9-14: Tyler Suzuki, Leigh basketball

Jan. 2-7: Rudy Cruz, Hayward soccer

Dec. 12-17: Nicholas Ruiz, Benicia soccer

Dec. 5-10: Eli Roth, Acalanes soccer

Nov. 28-Dec. 3: Austin Shelton, San Ramon Valley football

Nov. 21-26: Jae’Von Reels, Bellarmine football

Nov. 14-19: Dashiell Weaver, Campolindo football

Nov. 7-12: Nate Bell, Liberty football

Oct. 31-Nov. 5: Angel Barraza, Dublin football

Oct. 24-29: Zachariah Norton, Hayward football

Oct. 17-22: Shane Timmons, Saratoga football

Oct 10-15: Owen Neitzel, Leigh water polo

Oct. 3-8: Salvador Espinoza, Lincoln-San Jose football

Sept. 26-Oct. 1: Antonio Arenas, El Camino football

Sept. 19-24: Nic Austen, College Park water polo

Sept. 12-17: John Ben Pau Mendoza, San Ramon Valley football

Sept. 5-10: Luke Baker, San Ramon Valley football

Aug. 28-Sept. 3: Luke Llabres, Willow Glen water polo

Aug. 22-27: Mikhail Popov, College Park water polo