Athletes of the Week as selected by the Post-Gazette scholastic sports staff:

STACEY RHOADES

SCHOOL: South Park

WHO IS SHE? A 5-foot-5 senior pitcher on the Eagles' softball team, Rhoades has not allowed a run in more than a month.

THE PAST WEEK: Rhoades pitched a two-hitter and struck out 10 in a 5-0 victory Monday against Seton-LaSalle. She struck out three and pitched a perfect game Saturday in a 2-0 victory against Seneca Valley.

SEASON: Rhoades is 14-2 with 130 strikeouts. South Park has a 15-2 record and is the Post-Gazette's No. 1 WPIAL Class AA team.

CAREER: Rhoades has been on the varsity squad since her freshman year and became the No. 1 pitcher last season. She is 30-5 the past two seasons.

AMONG THE BEST: Rhoades has 13 shutouts in a row. According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, she is tied for 10th on the all-time list for consecutive shutouts. The record is 23, held by Tracy Compton of Santa Maria, Calif.

"I don't think there's pressure because of the streak," Rhoades said. "It's not like a hitting streak where you don't want to talk about it, or a no-hitter where you don't say anything because you might jinx it. We talk about it and it's fun to have something like this to keep you going, and it gives you a little more motivation."

Rhoades has allowed only four runs this season. The last time she gave up a run was April 7 when South Park lost to Sto-Rox, 2-1, in 10 innings.

COMING UP 'SHORT': Although Rhoades has enjoyed great success as a pitcher, her favorite position is shortstop. She played mostly shortstop before getting to high school.

"I wanted to pitch just because you're constantly with the ball and you're constantly in the game," Rhoades said. "But I really think I'm a better shortstop than a pitcher. I think I like shortstop more, too."

Rhoades has signed with Slippery Rock University and will most likely play the infield or outfield for the Rockets. "But I told the coaches there that I'd still like to pitch some, whether it's as the third-string pitcher or even batting practice," she said.

ARTS AND CRAFTS: Rhoades also was on South Park's volleyball team. When asked if she had any hobbies outside of sports, she said, "You probably think I'm weird, but I have a passion for art. I do a lot with ceramics and pottery in school."

When asked why that would make her weird, Rhoades said: "Just because a lot of people my age don't do that. But I love it. It's a good stress reliever."

Rhoades also is a high honors student at South Park.

-- By Mike White

CALVIN LITTLEJOHN

SCHOOL: Butler

WHO IS HE? A three-sport athlete who is now a standout for the Butler track and field team.

LAST WEEK: Littlejohn, a 6-foot, 180-pound senior, won three events Friday at the Baldwin Track and Field Invitational and was named MVP of the meet. He won the long jump with a mark of 21 feet, 8 inches, the triple jump at 46-1 and the high jump at 6-4. He also ran a leg on Butler's 400-meter relay team that finished second.

SEASON: Littlejohn has the top marks in the WPIAL this season in the long jump (22-10¹*₂) and triple jump (46-5). He is tied for first in the high jump (6-7).

LOFTY GOALS: The WPIAL Class AAA championships are a week from today at Baldwin High School. The PIAA championship meet is May 28-29 at Shippensburg University. Littlejohn hopes to "jump" out at people at both championships.

"I want to get at least 48 feet in the triple jump, get over 23 in the long jump and maybe 6-9 in the high jump," he said. "I feel those are reachable goals. The hardest one will be the high jump."

QUICK LEARNER: Littlejohn had never competed in the long jump or triple jump before this season. He was always a sprinter and a high jumper. He triple jumped 43 feet in his first meet this season.

"I like jumping a lot but you have to be a real competitor to go out there and do it every day," Littlejohn said. "Just because you might not be real pumped to jump as much as you would to run."

THE OTHER SPORTS: Littlejohn was on Butler's basketball team and was a standout running back on the Golden Tornado's football team. He rushed for 1,322 yards this past season and also intercepted five passes as a defensive back.

THE FUTURE: Littlejohn will attend Valley Forge Military Academy in eastern Pennsylvania. He hopes to stay one year at the school, improve his academics and possibly get a Division I football scholarship. Some Division I colleges, including Pitt, were interested in Littlejohn this past season. He runs the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds.

Valley Forge is the same school that produced former Pitt star receiver Larry Fitzgerald. "I'm not sure a military school is my kind of lifestyle, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do, just to get to where you want to go," Littlejohn said.

-- By Mike White