Photo by: Sue Moss

Freshman Annie Cook is continuing her siblings’ success on the dimaond.

After a brief meeting in left field at the conclusion of her game last week, Annie Cook, a freshman on the Whitman-Hanson Regional High softball team, didn’t waste any time.

She hurried into the dugout, placed her bat, glove and helmet into her bag, and trekked a diamond over — to the baseball field that is, to catch the final out of her brother Mike Cook’s game. A senior and four-year varsity player, three-year starter at second base and two-time Patriot League All-Star for the Panthers, Mike is in the midst of another All-Star season, hitting at a .356 clip. Since being inserted into the lineup every day, Mike, who is headed to play baseball at Babson College next season, has never hit below .300 (.302 as a sophomore and .394 as a junior).

Before Mike, it was Emily Cook, the elder of the three siblings. A four-year starter at six different positions for the softball team, Emily capped her career as a .424 batter after hitting .471 her senior campaign.

“I’ve always had high expectations from them,” Annie said. “They’ve always been really, really good athletes and really good scholars and stuff like that so I’ve always tried to hold myself up to their standards and try my best to be like them.”

Annie said her sister Emily is her biggest role model.

“She’s helped me a lot,” Annie said. “She’s always helped me for what to expect and how to pick myself up after a game. She just always said to play your heart out and do your best and you’ll do good.”

And do good is what she’s done. Annie is well on her way to making her own name for herself. The Panthers’ starter at the hot corner and leadoff hitter, Annie finished third on the team with a .444 average and .394 OBP and was tabbed a league all-star in just her first year.

“I knew right off the bat that I wanted her to lead off for us,” said W-H softball head coach Jordan McDermott. “Somehow she’s always able to get on. She’s got a solid swing and when she makes contact that ball is hit hard.”

Photo by: Sue Moss

Annie posted eight multi-hit games and McDermott said it’s her determination that sets her apart.

“She is always working hard to be better and be the best,” said the coach. “She can be hard on herself and has amazing self-discipline. I have seen her grow into being a loose and collected player.”

Annie Cook and head coach Jordan McDermott / Photo by: Sue Moss

Annie agreed that she’s grown a lot – especially mentally from the days when she was the one sitting behind the fence watching her sister take hacks in the batter’s box.

“I was nervous to get up here, but now that I’m older I’m ready to play these teams,” she said.

Annie said her goals for the offseason and rest of school year are to continue doing what got her to this point.

“I’ll keep working on my hitting,” she said. “I’m just going to keep trying to do my best.”