Riley Henricks used to be the little guy who always hit at the bottom of the order.

These days, though, Henricks makes a big impression at the plate.

The 5-foot-10, 160-pound senior from Kamiak High School is still one of the smallest athletes on the field. But unwavering devotion to his sport and support from several influential coaches turned him into a star.

Anyone who doubted Henricks’ ability was swayed last weekend when he was named Offensive Most Valuable Player at the All-State Baseball Series in Yakima. In two games, the second baseman was 5-for-7 with two doubles, one home run and five runs batted in.

“I just went over there knowing that I just wanted to have fun. Coming in, I was a little nervous … but I knew I could play with them,” said Henricks, who recently accepted a partial athletic scholarship to play for the University of Portland.

Based on his performance in the All-State Series, where he was among 75 players from 60 schools, Henricks was selected by coaches to represent Washington in the Cascade Cup. The Washington vs. Oregon event is June 23 at Hudson’s Bay High in Vancouver, Wash.

“It’s gonna be a lot of fun. I can’t wait,” said Henricks, a member of The Herald’s All-Area Baseball First Team.

Mariner senior Braden Degamo, a catcher, was the only other local player picked for the Cascade Cup. Degamo, taken June 8 by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 44th round of the Major League Baseball amateur draft, played with Henricks during their Little League days.

It’s been quite a senior year for Henricks, a two-sport standout who was an Associated Press All-State First Team defensive back in football.

In 23 baseball games this spring, Henricks batted .443 (35-for-79) with 10 doubles, five homers and 21 RBI. He also scored 28 runs, stole five bases and compiled a sparkling .527 on-base percentage as Kamiak’s leadoff hitter.

Henricks became a reliable, productive player after several years of hard work.

“He probably, in the history of Kamiak baseball, has matured the most of any player we’ve had,” Kamiak assistant coach Jim Geiger said, “in terms of where he started as a freshman and where he ended up as a senior.” Henricks has a great chance to succeed at the collegiate level, said Geiger. It’s easy to root for the outgoing infielder, the coach said.

“He’s an awesome young man,” Geiger said. “He’s got a great personality.”

Picture perfect

When Rendel Jones and Harlan Jackson shook hands last week before a photo shoot at Everett High, it symbolically bridged a gap of 26 years.

That’s how long it had been since a Seagulls team won a state championship. Jackson, who coached Everett’s girls cross country team to a state title in 1981, met Jones, a junior, and many other members of the school’s current boys track squad, which ended the long title drought by snaring a 3A state crown last month in Pasco.

Everett boys track coach Doug Hall invited Jackson to attend the team photo shoot to celebrate the past, present and future of Seagull sports. Two runners from the ‘81 team showed up, too: Margaret Hoban (Class of ‘83) and Leilani George (Class of ‘84). Coincidentally, George is the daughter of the photographer, Mike Dunn, who has compiled the track squad’s team poster for several years, Hall said.

Hall, who completed his eighth season as Everett’s head coach, called Jackson his mentor. Hall assisted Jackson for four years before taking the head job.

It was always clear that Hall would be successful, Jackson said: “I could tell he was gonna be a good one. I didn’t know he’d win a state title, but I knew he’d be a good one.”

Night runners

Cross country teams are needed for a unique running event this fall.

Marysville-Pilchuck High cross country coach Randall Edens seeks participants for the first-ever Tomahawk Twilight Meet. The six-race junior varsity and varsity event, scheduled for 5 p.m. Sept. 22 at Cedarcrest Golf Course in Marysville, gives runners a rare chance to compete at night. Light towers will illuminate the 5-kilometer course.

The cost is $100 per boys team and per girls team or $150 for a school that sends boys and girls teams. For more information, contact Edens at Randy_Edens@msvl.k12.wa.us or redens@hotmail.com.

Softball Gatorade award

Sam Skillingstad, a junior pitcher from Shadle Park High of Spokane, is Gatorade’s 2006-07 Washington Softball Player of the Year. Skillingstad propelled Shadle Park to the Class 4A state championship, tossing a one-hitter and striking out eight in a 2-0 triumph over Mountain View of Vancouver in the title game.

This season, Skillingstad was 28-1 with a 0.24 earned-run average and 371 strikeouts in 175 innings – an average of 2.1 K’s per inning. The 5-foot-7 pitcher threw six no-hitters (including three perfect games) and tallied 23 shutouts. She also hit .443 with six home runs and drove in 33 runs.