The sophomore thrower set a school record with a personal-best discus throw of 138 feet, 6 1/2inches in a three-team Western Conference meet Thursday at Everett Memorial Stadium. She also won the shot put with a throw of 44-2, which was 4 inches farther than her winning throw in last year’s Class 4A state meet.
Hooks improved her best distance in the discus by more than 14 feet with the top throw in the state so far this season.
“I just knew she was capable of a big throw early in the season,” said Cascade coach Bill Stengele, who also serves as Hooks’ throwing coach. “It was a matter of lift. She’s been throwing line drives. She was able to get some lift. She had better position and the discus just took off.”
Hooks set a school and personal record in the shot put with a throw of 46-3 in the Chuck Randall Relays at Arlington on March 27. That’s the top mark in the state this season.
Hooks did not place in the discus at the state meet last year, but Stengele said her focus was on the shot.
“It was maybe 80 percent on the shot last year,” Stengele said. “This year it’s more like 60/40 and we’re working toward 50/50.”
Stengele said Hooks is so far ahead of where she left off last year because she played varsity volleyball and basketball between track seasons.
“She got faster and stronger,” Stengele said.
Stengele didn’t want to put a number on Hooks’ potential.
“She’s getting better every day,” he said. “Right now, she’s improving by feet. Ultimately, it will be by inches.
“She one of the few high school athletes I know that is an athlete physically, mentally and emotionally.”
Other top girls track performers: Susan Quick, Edmonds-Woodway.
The junior catcher/relief pitcher was thrust into a starting role because of injuries and threw a no-hitter in his first career start in a 4-0 victory over Oak Harbor. Hammons had 10 strikeouts and drove in the game-winning run in the first inning.
“We were hoping he could go the distance,” Snohomish co-coach Barry Rodland said. “He had a low pitch count and good location. He struck out five of the first six batters in the first two innings and looked real good. We had a long reliever ready and a closer, but he did a super job.”
Rodland, who didn’t realize Hammons was pitching a no-hitter until after the game was over, said Hammons threw mostly fastballs and curves. He had good velocity and a good break on the curve and was hitting his spots.
The defense also helped, making three outstanding plays behind Hammons, Rodland said.
First, second baseman JefffRodland went into the hole between first and second to stop a well-hit ball and take a hit away.
Second, center fielder Pat Job went deep into the left-center field gap to make a running catch on what would otherwise have been an extra-base hit.
And third, left fielder Gavin Heinemann made an over-the-shoulder catch down the line in left.
“We had just moved him back a few steps,” Rodland said. “If we hadn’t moved him back, he wouldn’t have gotten there. That was sweet.”
Heinemann also took some of the pressure off Hammons with a three-run double.
Other top baseball performers: Brennan Grubb, Lynnwood; Jake Bruns, Lakewood; Brandon Eagon, Snohomish; Tyler Levin, Everett; Blake Snow, Cascade; Bryan Smith, Stanwood; Josh Short, Marysville-Pilchuck; Nick Haughian, Marysville-Pilchuck; Matt Fields, Lake Stevens; Jesse Wight, Kamiak; Travis Snider, Kamiak; Jeremy Klippenstien, Mountlake Terrace; Scott Heath, Mountlake Terrace; Owen Dykstra, Everett; Ronnie Morton, Lakewood; Jake Rife, Lakewood; Gaven Heinemann, Snohomish; Josh Schettler, Snohomish County Christian.
Softball player of the week: Christie Robinson, South Whidbey.
Other top softball performers: Ashley Forsberg, Monroe; Amy Hudson, Everett; Krista Colburn, Kamiak; Jennifer Knott, Stanwood; Angela DuBois, Shorewood; Brianna Wartman, Shorewood; Kaitlyn Kennedy, Archbishop Murphy; Kayelynne Huggins, Archbishop Murphy; Shelby Clapper, Archbishop Murphy; Sarah Froman, Lake Stevens; Kalena Kessler, Kamiak; Rachel Koenig-Eng, Jackson; Carolann Lubach, South Whidbey; Krista Hansen, Arlington; Kinsley Balunsat, Lake Stevens; Allison Hall, Lake Stevens; Kate Defenbach, Kamiak; Ashley Morrison, Shorecrest; Krista Crosson, Lake Stevens; Bronwyn Russell, South Whidbey; Ashley Millican, Granite Falls; Janet Abel, Granite Falls; Laura Hellstrom, Lakewood; Heather Waller, Shoreline Christian.
Boys golfer of the week: Troy Koontz, Jackson.
Other top boys golf performers: Jacob Koppenberg, Everett; Andrew Ghim, Kamiak; Jonathan Keane, Meadowdale; Ben Waiss, Archbishop Murphy; Marcus Duffy, Archbishop Murphy; Mitch Kane, Archbishop Murphy.
Girls golfer of the week: Renee Skidmore, Cascade.
Other top girls golf performers: Kim Shin, Shorewood; Caitlin Parker, Marysville-Pilchuck; Allix Baer, Jackson; Amy Axley, Archbishop Murphy.
Boys soccer player of the week: Caleb Barnhill, Sultan.
Other top boys soccer performers: A.J. Gonzales, Sultan; Eric Marty, Meadowdale; Lamar Anderson, Meadowdale; George John, Shorewood.
Girls tennis player of the week: Ashley Wagner, Meadowdale.
Other top girls tennis performers: Grace Bhak, Jackson; Lauren Ayers and Andra Shaughnessy, Stanwood; Teri Jirak, Monroe.
Boys track athlete of the week: Michael Davis, King’s.
Other top boys track performers: Paul Zavaglia, Edmonds-Woodway; Chase Mancuso, Kamiak; Bobby Dockter, Kamiak; Jerod Grant, Mariner.
John McDonald, Prep Editor
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