Gazette photographers pick their favorite Sports photos of May 2019

Chapman's Drew Littwin (12) throws a Washington & Jefferson ground ball to first for an out in the ninth inning during a first round game at the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship at Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids on Monday, May 31, 2019. I had several strong images from this game but this was the most dramatic action and a bit different from the usual layer fielding a ground ball shot.(Cliff Jette/The Gazette)

I love photographing girls athletics. The players show their emotions more than the boys do. All I have to do is be prepared and focused enough to record those moments. Cedar Rapids Xavier's Emily Jasper (left) hugs Miyako Coffey as they celebrate their 1A championship win over Columbus Catholic's Elysse Trost and Taylor Hogan for the 1A doubles championship at the University of Iowa Tennis and Recreation Center in Iowa City, Iowa on Thursday, May 30, 2019. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Iowa City West's Brody Schilling (5) hooks the ankle of Ankeny's Riley Wood (11) as he kicks the ball during their Class 3A boys prep soccer state quarterfinal game at Cownie Soccer Park in Des Moines on Friday, May 31, 2019. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

The Iowa men's track team celebrates winning the team trophy at the 2019 Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the University of Iowa's Francis X. Cretzmeyer Track in Iowa City on Sunday, May 12, 2019. I think trophy shots are overdone, so I am not sure why I picked this image to be honest. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)

The Kee-Hawks and the Pirates tied for first place in the class 1A team competition but there was only one championship trophy. I liked the good-natured attitudes of the athletes as they handoff the trophy. Kee's Katie Brennan (right) hands the 1A championship trophy to Alburnett's Kylie Volesky (left) so the Pirates can take their team photo during the awards ceremony at the 2019 Iowa High School Track & Field Championships at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa, on Saturday, May 18, 2019. The teams tied for first place. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

From left, Iowa City West's Claudia Chia, Cedar Rapids Kennedy's Amelia Spreitzer and Iowa City Liberty's Neely Maurus walk to the green of the 13th hole at Finkbine Golf Course in Iowa City during the MVC Valley Divisional meet on Monday, May 13, 2019. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

Iowa's Wayne Lawrence Jr. greets 4x400 relay teammate Mar'yea Harris at the finish line after the Hawkeyes won the event at the 2019 Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the University of Iowa's Francis X. Cretzmeyer Track in Iowa City on Sunday, May 12, 2019. I like the juxposition of the runner who knew they had won the race with the anchor leg runner so tired he couldn't really process the victory. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)

In my experience, male athletes rarely show emotion. That's why I like photographing girls' events like softball or volleyball. I had to shoot between several runners taking some warmup sprints to get a clean shot before the moment was over. Western Dubuque's Damon Jaeger (left) and Zack Butcher (right) celebrate with their coach after the 4A long jump at the 2019 Iowa High School Track & Field Championships at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa, on Friday, May 17, 2019. Jaeger won with a jump of 22' 07.75'. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Tennis is limited in the variety of shots to make from an action standpoint so I was glad when the players approached the net to shake hands after their match. Number one seed Cedar Rapids Washington's Rami Scheetz (right) meets Pleasant Valley's Brady Adams at the net after Scheetz won their 2A state tennis second round match at the 2019 Class 2A Tennis Tournament at Westfield Tennis Club in southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Friday, May 24, 2019. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Cedar Falls' Nathan Le (20) helps Cedar Rapids Kennedy's Alan Kim (7) stretch after he fell in their substate semifinal at Clark Field in Cedar Rapids on Wednesday, May 22, 2019. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

Iowa City West's Kiara Malloy-Salgado pushes to reach the finish line to place seond with Cedar Rapids Washington's Maggie Gorman and Cedar Rapids Prairie's Alyza Koppes in pursuit during the girls 4x800 meter relay at a Class 4A state qualifying track meet at Iowa City High on Friday, May 10, 2019. I like the expression on the runner's face with the second and third place runners out of focuse but still close behind. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)

Aplington-Parkersburg is another school that really isn't in The Gazette's coverage area but a good picture is hard to pass up. Aplington-Parkersburg's Sophia Jungling celebrates winning the 2A 800-meter run at the 2019 Iowa High School Track & Field Championships at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa, on Saturday, May 18, 2019. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

West Liberty's Carlos Galaviz (19) slides under North Polk's Luke McCoy (11) during their Class 1A boys prep soccer state quarterfinal game at Cownie Soccer Park in Des Moines on Friday, May 31, 2019. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

Iowa City West's Roberto Machado (14) loses possession against Ankeny during their Class 3A boys prep soccer state quarterfinal game at Cownie Soccer Park in Des Moines on Friday, May 31, 2019. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

Iowa City Regina's Josh Dutchik (38) makes a save against Greene County during their Class 1A boys prep soccer state quarterfinal game at Cownie Soccer Park in Des Moines on Friday, May 31, 2019. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

Iowa's Cameron Cecil (1) tries to get to a ball hit by Ohio State into the outfield during a softball game at Pearl Field in Iowa City on Saturday, May 4, 2019. One nice thing about covering softball is the field is small enough to get interesting shots in the outfield. Outfielders don't interact with the opposing players like the infield, so you are always looking for interesting faces and players diving for a ball. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)

Coe's Riley LeGrand (30) snags a Dubuque hit in game 4 of the American Rivers Conference tournament at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids on Thursday, May 9, 2019. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

Jared Akins (30) of the Kernels breaks a bat as he hits a triple against Peoria during a Midwest League baseball game at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids on Sunday, May 26, 2019. I think this is the first time I have capture a good image of a bat breaking. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)

The sun sets over the grandstand during the season opener at Hawkeye Downs in Cedar Rapids on Friday, May 3, 2019. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

When I was photographing Milwaukee Brewers games for the Associated Press in the mid 1990's, one of the lessons I learned was just because there was a rain delay didn't mean I could sit in the darkroom until it stopped raining. I was told what if a bored player used the infield tarp as a slip n' slide. It was a wet lesson to learn. This is more of an online only shot so our online staff could have a visual to post with any story mentioning how severe weather postponed events at the state track meet. Spectators head for shelter from the rain and hail as a storm postpones the boy's 4A 400-meter dash during the 2019 Iowa High School Track & Field Championships at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa, on Thursday, May 16, 2019. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

This is another shot for our online staff could use with any posts about the state track meet being delayed. I shot it with a 20mm held just off the wet infield track apron.Track workers use a squeegee roller and a leaf blower to clear rainwater from the new infield shot put area as workers prepare the track for the second day of the 2019 Iowa High School Track & Field Championships at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa, on Friday, May 17, 2019. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Having a 600mm lens gives you added reach to get away from the usual shooting locations to look for something different. I like the clean back ground. Montezuma's Shelby Conger clears the bar during the 1A high jump at the 2019 Iowa High School Track & Field Championships at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa, on Friday, May 17, 2019. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Sometimes the reaction is better than the action. I missed an earlier celebration by Grant after he cleared a shorter height by not being in the right position. I moved closer to where his coach and other Bobcats fans were sitting and waited. Western Dubuque's Grant Kelchen celebrates after clearing 6'7' during the 4A high jump at the 2019 Iowa High School Track & Field Championships at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa, on Thursday, May 16, 2019. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Lynnville-Sully isn't in our coverage area but it's difficult to resist a good photo when it happens in front of you. I like the laying of the various hands on Tyson. Lynnville-Sully's Tyson Vander Linden is hugged by his family after winning the 1A 400-meter dash during the 2019 Iowa High School Track & Field Championships at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa, on Thursday, May 16, 2019. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

This is the flip side to the thrill of victory. It is a storytelling photo as Ashlyn was beaten to the finish line by .12 seconds. Only a freshman, I have no doubt that Ashlyn will be in the good company of Jenks, Miller, Topham, Houlihan and apologies to the other Iowa girls track greats I didn't mention. Liberty's Ashlyn Keeney (left) reacts after losing to Ottumwa's Allison Bookin-Nosbisch during the 4A 800-meter run at the 2019 Iowa High School Track & Field Championships at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa, on Saturday, May 18, 2019. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

I'm still upset that I cut off Kiersten's fingers but the moment is still there. I usually shoot the shuttle hurdle relay about halfway along the side of the track. That way I can photograph all the runners going over one or two hurdles. It also allows me to get to the finish line before the first and third runners hug and celebrate with their second the anchor runner teammates. Beckman's Kiersten Schmitt (left) runs to Addie McDermott (center) and Heather Boeckenstedt (right) as they celebrate their 2A 4 x 100-meter shuttle hurdle relay win at the 2019 Iowa High School Track & Field Championships at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa, on Saturday, May 18, 2019. Beckman won in 1:05.60. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

After shooting two full days of track and field events, including squishing through the soaked shot-put and discus venues, Saturday is all about emotion at the finish line. The hair-flying ponytail makes the photo for me. Solon's Erin Kerkhoff reacts as she crosses the finish line to win the 3A 4 x 400-meter relay for the Spartans at the 2019 Iowa High School Track & Field Championships at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa, on Saturday, May 18, 2019. Solon won in 3:54.99. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)