Poplar Bluff, MO - The Mules Booster Club has named Emily Nelson and Noah Burkey of Poplar Bluff High School the May Athletes of the Month, presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors.

Burkey, a baseball player of the Class of 2020, pitched for three years, throwing 99 strikeouts with an earned run average of 2.01, while batting a .382 his junior year with 44 RBIs. During pre-season, he was an All-State and honorable mention Perfect Game All-American pitcher. In the classroom, he maintained a 10.2 cumulative grade point average.

“Noah Burkey has been a leader on and off the field of play. He always works hard at doing everything the right way,” said Steven Edwards, his coach. “He is a great representative of the Poplar Bluff Mules sports programs. Noah will definitely be successful in everything he does in life because of the lifelong guidance of his family.” 

Nelson, a soccer player of the Class of 2020, ended her last season prematurely with 6 goals and 3 assists. She won best offense and lettered for two years. She earned a 3.87 GPA out of 4.0. 

“She is a tough girl. [She’s] been out for a year for a concussion injury, and she was really excited about returning this season,” said Rusty Crafton, her coach. “She would have been a great asset to our team this year, but looking forward to great things out of her in the future.”

Pictured: Noah Burkey and Emily Nelson are presented AOM awards on Friday, June 12, from Booster Club vice president Brian Taylor.

Article and photo submitted by Tim Krakowiak, Communications/Marketing Director, Poplar Bluff R-I School District