Brimfield/Elmwood’s Johnson, Dunlap’s Atkinson win CSM Spring Athletes of the Week

Go north and west of Peoria and you’ll find plenty of big hitters, as well as the latest CSM Spring Athletes of the Week in Brimfield/Elmwood’s Layne Johnson and Dunlap’s Kaitlyn Atkinson.

Johnson helped the Indians baseball team extend its win streak to close the regular season to 14 games with more than a handful of extra-base hits and RBIs. Atkinson delivered in multiple ways for the Dunlap softball team in their penultimate week of the regular season before the Eagles earned a share of the Mid-Illini Conference title. 

Read more about our winners and their big performances and get to know them in Q and A’s below:

Johnson won CSM Boys Athlete of the Week after receiving 44 percent of the votes in the boys poll. The Brimfield/Elmwood junior finished the regular season with a flourish, going 7-for-15 with eight RBIs, five doubles and a home run in four Indians wins. He doubled in all four of his at-bats and drove in two runs in an 11-1 win over Peoria Christian on May 17, hit a grand slam in a 14-7 win against Fieldcrest on May 12 and went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs in a 16-0 win over Midwest Central on May 16. Johnson ended his season with a .444 batting average, 37 RBIs, a team-high 14 doubles and four home runs.

Get to know Johnson in a Q and A here:

What’s been your favorite memory of the season so far?

“Throwing out 3 runners vs Illini West.”

If you had to be stranded on an island with a teammate, who would it be and why?

“Evan Patterson because I feel his survival instincts are the best.”

Favorite music artist?

“Limp Bizkit.”

Favorite food?

“Steak.”

Do you have any pregame routines/rituals?

“Red Bull of color team.”

Who’s your favorite college or professional athlete?

“Definitely Justin Osterhouse.”

Do you have any hidden talents?

“I’m really good at ab rollouts for some reason.”

Who’s your role model and why?

“Has to be my parents for setting the standard for me.”

Atkinson won CSM Girls Athlete of the Week after receiving 59 percent of the votes in the girls poll. She was a big presence at the plate and in the circle, striking out eight batters and allowing no runs both in wins against IVC on May 12 and Bloomington Central Catholic on May 17. She blasted two home runs and four RBIs as part of a 4-for-4 outing at the plate in a 15-2 win over Canton on May 13, hit another home run in a 5-3 loss to Washington on May 15 and drove in one run in the win over BCC. 

Atkinson had not responded to a Q and A inquiry as of Tuesday morning. This story will be updated if answers are received.