Vote now among 28 nominees for StarNews Athlete of the Week

Vote now among 28 nominees for StarNews Athlete of the Week

New Hanover comes together at the plate as they took on Cleveland May 8, 2026. New Hanover lost in extra innings 9-6.

New Hanover’s #1 Tate Nelson catches a late ball as Cleveland's #4 Caleb Lynn slides in safe at 2nd base. New Hanover lost 9-6..

Clevelands #3 Henry Blackman is safe at home as they beat New Hanover 9-6 May 8, 2026.

New Hanover looks on ast they lost to Cleveland in extra innings 9-6.

New Hanover comes together at the plate as they took on Cleveland May 18, 2026. New Hanover lost 9-6..

Cleveland comes together to talk to pitcher #4 Caleb Lynn May 8, 2026. Cleveland beat New Hanover 9-6.

New Hanover’s #3 Hudson Southerland gets a piece of the ball as New Hanover lost to Cleveland 9-6.

New Hanover looks on as they lost to Cleveland in extra innings 9-6.

New Hanover celebrates a run as the took on Cleveland May 8, 2026. New Hanover lost 9-6.

Clevelands #3 Henry Blackman is safe at home as New Hanover's #3 Adler Stumpf trys to tag him out. New Hanover lost 9-6.

New Hanover’s #5 Nick Marren dives back safe at first after the ball gets away from CLeveland's #22 Landon Wendel. Cleveland won 9-6.

New Hanover’s #1 Tate Nelson throws the ball to first for an out as New Hanover took on Cleveland May 8, 2026. New Hanover lost in extra innings 9-6.

New Hanover’s #17 Colton Creech is safe at 2nd as New Hanover took on Cleveland May 8, 2026. Cleveland beat New Hanover. 9-6.

New Hanover comes together at home after a score during play against Cleveland. New Hanover lost to Cleveland 9-6.

New Hanover’s #16 Camden Croom makes a play at 1st as New Hanover lost to Cleveland 9-6.

New Hanover’s #3 Hudson Southerland makes the play at 2nd as New Hanover lost to Cleveland 9-6.

New Hanover’s #11 Patrick McIntosh pitches as New Haover took on Cleveland May 8, 2026. New Hanover lost 9-6.

New Hanover celebrates a run as the took on Cleveland May 8, 2026.

New Hanover’s #2 Logan Pearce pitches as they took on Cleveland May 8, 2026.

New Hanover’s #4 Chase Leonard dives back into 1st as New Hanover takes on Cleveland May 8, 2026.

New Hanover’s #16 Camden Croom catches a popfly as New Hanover lost to Cleveland in extra innings 9-6.

New Hanover celebrates after #16 Camden Croom hit a homerun as they took on Cleveland May 8, 2026.

New Hanover’s #10 Andy McIntosh is safe at 1st as New Hanover lost to Cleveland 9-6.

New Hanover looks on as they lost to Cleveland in extra innings 9-6.

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See the action from New Hanover baseball's playoff battle with Cleveland

New Hanover comes together at the plate as they took on Cleveland May 8, 2026. New Hanover lost in extra innings 9-6.

1 / 24

See the action from New Hanover baseball's playoff battle with Cleveland

New Hanover comes together at the plate as they took on Cleveland May 8, 2026. New Hanover lost in extra innings 9-6.

2 / 24

See the action from New Hanover baseball's playoff battle with Cleveland

New Hanover’s #1 Tate Nelson catches a late ball as Cleveland's #4 Caleb Lynn slides in safe at 2nd base. New Hanover lost 9-6..

3 / 24

See the action from New Hanover baseball's playoff battle with Cleveland

Clevelands #3 Henry Blackman is safe at home as they beat New Hanover 9-6 May 8, 2026.

4 / 24

See the action from New Hanover baseball's playoff battle with Cleveland

New Hanover looks on ast they lost to Cleveland in extra innings 9-6.

5 / 24

See the action from New Hanover baseball's playoff battle with Cleveland

New Hanover comes together at the plate as they took on Cleveland May 18, 2026. New Hanover lost 9-6..

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See the action from New Hanover baseball's playoff battle with Cleveland

Cleveland comes together to talk to pitcher #4 Caleb Lynn May 8, 2026. Cleveland beat New Hanover 9-6.

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See the action from New Hanover baseball's playoff battle with Cleveland

New Hanover’s #3 Hudson Southerland gets a piece of the ball as New Hanover lost to Cleveland 9-6.

8 / 24

See the action from New Hanover baseball's playoff battle with Cleveland

New Hanover looks on as they lost to Cleveland in extra innings 9-6.

9 / 24

See the action from New Hanover baseball's playoff battle with Cleveland

New Hanover celebrates a run as the took on Cleveland May 8, 2026. New Hanover lost 9-6.

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See the action from New Hanover baseball's playoff battle with Cleveland

Clevelands #3 Henry Blackman is safe at home as New Hanover's #3 Adler Stumpf trys to tag him out. New Hanover lost 9-6.

11 / 24

See the action from New Hanover baseball's playoff battle with Cleveland

New Hanover’s #5 Nick Marren dives back safe at first after the ball gets away from CLeveland's #22 Landon Wendel. Cleveland won 9-6.

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See the action from New Hanover baseball's playoff battle with Cleveland

New Hanover’s #1 Tate Nelson throws the ball to first for an out as New Hanover took on Cleveland May 8, 2026. New Hanover lost in extra innings 9-6.

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See the action from New Hanover baseball's playoff battle with Cleveland

New Hanover’s #17 Colton Creech is safe at 2nd as New Hanover took on Cleveland May 8, 2026. Cleveland beat New Hanover. 9-6.

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See the action from New Hanover baseball's playoff battle with Cleveland

New Hanover comes together at home after a score during play against Cleveland. New Hanover lost to Cleveland 9-6.

15 / 24

See the action from New Hanover baseball's playoff battle with Cleveland

New Hanover’s #16 Camden Croom makes a play at 1st as New Hanover lost to Cleveland 9-6.

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See the action from New Hanover baseball's playoff battle with Cleveland

New Hanover’s #3 Hudson Southerland makes the play at 2nd as New Hanover lost to Cleveland 9-6.

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See the action from New Hanover baseball's playoff battle with Cleveland

New Hanover’s #11 Patrick McIntosh pitches as New Haover took on Cleveland May 8, 2026. New Hanover lost 9-6.

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See the action from New Hanover baseball's playoff battle with Cleveland

New Hanover celebrates a run as the took on Cleveland May 8, 2026.

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Wilmington-area 2026 high school baseball, softball brackets

New Hanover’s #2 Logan Pearce pitches as they took on Cleveland May 8, 2026.

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See the action from New Hanover baseball's playoff battle with Cleveland

New Hanover’s #4 Chase Leonard dives back into 1st as New Hanover takes on Cleveland May 8, 2026.

21 / 24

See the action from New Hanover baseball's playoff battle with Cleveland

New Hanover’s #16 Camden Croom catches a popfly as New Hanover lost to Cleveland in extra innings 9-6.

22 / 24

See the action from New Hanover baseball's playoff battle with Cleveland

New Hanover celebrates after #16 Camden Croom hit a homerun as they took on Cleveland May 8, 2026.

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See the action from New Hanover baseball's playoff battle with Cleveland

New Hanover’s #10 Andy McIntosh is safe at 1st as New Hanover lost to Cleveland 9-6.

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See the action from New Hanover baseball's playoff battle with Cleveland

New Hanover looks on as they lost to Cleveland in extra innings 9-6.

The high school spring sports playoffs are underway, and Wilmington-area athletes are already delivering in the biggest moments.

From baseball to softball, the postseason is just beginning to take shape. The slate only gets deeper May 11, when girls soccer and both boys and girls lacrosse join the bracket. For full coverage, including updated brackets, scores and analysis from across the area, find everything you need here.

Now it’s your turn to weigh in. With 28 nominees in this playoff-loaded StarNews Athlete of the Week Poll, the decision is in the hands of the fans. Cast your vote and help decide the next Athlete of the Week.

Voting runs through Thursday, May 14, at 11:59 p.m. Fans can vote as many times as they like using the poll below.

HIGH SCHOOL PLAYOFFS Wilmington-area 2026 high school spring sports scores, brackets

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Vote now in the StarNews Athlete of the Week Poll May 10