Coken hoped to turn around Tolman Senior had dream of Tigers going to playoffs
PAWTUCKET — Hannah Coken had it all mapped out in her mind as to what she wanted to achieve her senior season as a member of the Tolman High varsity fast-pitch softball team.
Individually, she wanted to lead the Tigers – again – in batting average, doubles, triples and RBI; improve upon being selected third-team All-Division, this time earn a firstteam laurel as a pitcher/shortstop; make All-State; and be the best captain she could be.
But there was more. “Defensively, I really wanted to improve my mental game at short,” she offered. “It used to be that if I made an error, oh, it was very easy to see how upset with myself I was, and I needed to get a better grip on that. I’d get so angry because I expected more from myself. That’s one thing I’ve been working on – trying to let it go and focus on the next play.”
As far as team goals, that was so simple.
“The last time we made the playoffs, I was only a freshman, and Craig Giarusso was the head coach; obviously, that’s what we were looking at,” she said.
“It had been so long. We dropped down from D-I to D-II last season, so we thought it was more than possible, if everything went right and fell into place.”
— Tolman’s Hannah Coken
“It had been so long. We dropped down from D-I to D-II last season, so we thought it was more than possible, if everything went right and fell into place.
If everything went miraculously well, who knows? Maybe we could even steal a state championship.
“That’s what we all dream about (in the preseason), isn’t it?”
The problem was, the preseason never ended for Coken and her teammates; the spring campaign for all sports at all schools statewide suffered cancellation officially on Friday, April 24, after Rhode Island Interscholastic League officials sent out a memo declaring such due to the coronavirus outbreak.
“The day before, I found out that the governor had said that schools would not be reopening and we’d have to continue with distance learning,” Coken sighed. “I texted my coach (Scott Coooper) saying, ‘Hey, what’s
deal? Are we going to have a season or not?’ And he texted me back, ‘I’m so hopeful!’
“Hours later, after hearing more, I sent him one back, ‘So it’s over?’ and he (responded), ‘I’m very sorry, Hannah.’
“I could have committed four errors and I wouldn’t have been that upset,” she added. “I was kind of numb, and a few days later, when I realized it was over, I cried a little bit. I mean, this was my senior year; it was my time to shine. I had waited four years for this, and – just like that – it was taken away.
“I had such high hopes. I had spent this winter training with my new travel team, Fire-N-Ice, and we were doing a lot of running, drills, hitting in cages, throwing, etc. We were doing that two times a week at (the Community College of Rhode Island), then I’d do more work at home. I was really working hard. I wanted this last high school season to be so special, but … “
When asked how she’s dealing with the massive disappointment, she claimed in different ways. One is continuing to train on her own.
“I’m just trying to maintain my positivity,” she said. “I’ve spoken with some of my Tolman teammates since all this happened, and they’re all bummed out like me, so I’m just trying to remain as upbeat as I can, staying active and surrounding myself with my family and friends, being with them.”
Coken did admit she’s got a lot to look forward to, as she’s working out to play with the Fire-N-Ice U-18 travel team this summer. She’s doing the same as she will be attending Hilbert College, a Division III school in Hamburg, N.Y. (10 miles south of Buffalo), to play varsity softball on a partial academic scholarship later in August.
The key word: Hopefully. Who knows when states – and college sports – will reopen the way it once was?
She admitted being floored when, last August, John Hall, the Hawks’ head coach, texted her and asked she made a visit to Hilbert before school started.
“The funny thing is, I never knew about this college; I later found out that when I was at a New England’s Finest Showcase in Plainville, Mass. with my New England Phoenix team last summer, Coach Hall was there recruiting a girl on the other team, but then he saw me play,” she laughed. “I guess he liked me more. I’m so glad!
“I guess he told someone, ‘I want to talk to No. 6, that was me, and he told me, ‘Well, now you have a college very interested in you.’ I was stunned … I’ve talked to a number of different colleges, but he’s the one who showed the most interest in me. He wanted me the most. He told me he thought I could valuable to his team as a pitcher, a hitter and a fielder.
“I was impressed.” Coken also has big plans in chasing a double major of forensic science and crime scene investigation, all the while minoring in criminal justice.
“I would LOVE someday to work on crime scenes, see how one thing led to another in a case,” she said. “I like to see how the pieces of a puzzle or a case go together. Why? I like being able to connect the dots.”
As for now, Coken is just trying to finish up high school the best she can and staying busy while dreaming about her next steps in academia and athletics.
“Typically, I’m spending a lot of time over at Slater Park, playing catch, hitting and pitching, sometimes my myself, sometimes with some friends who play other sports,” she said. “If they’re not very good at softball, that doesn’t matter; they’re still helping me, even if it is just playing catch.
“I’m just trying to make sure I get all my work in. I want to be as ready as I can for later this summer, and especially when I get to Hilbert.”
“I’m just trying to make sure I get all my work in. I want to be as ready as I can for later this summer, and especially when I get to Hilbert.”
– Tolman’s Hannah Coken