WEEK Jason Crooks has the hot bat for Sutter
The Sutter Union High School baseball team finished up its host tournament on Thursday and while they didn’t come away with the result they wanted, the Huskies were able to showcase some of their best talent, including first baseman Jason Crooks.
The junior infielder currently leads the team with 25 RBI, while also boasting an impressive .422 batting average and 19 hits on the season.
“He has really stepped up for us in a lot of ways this year,” said head coach Stewart Peterson. “He’s one of the first guys out there and one of the last to leave. I love his work ethic, it’ll take him far.”
For Crooks, baseball started at a young age. Growing up, his dad introduced him to many sports, but baseball was always the one that stuck with him.
“There’s just something about this sport that I love. It’s a great way to challenge yourself on a daily basis,” said Crooks.
After starting his young career at third base and then pitcher, Crooks quickly realized that first base was where he was meant to be when he went through a growth spurt. Being that he is much taller now, the long reach for him makes him a bigger target for infielders.
According to coach Peterson, the Huskies first base position has always been a leadership role, therefore he expects
Crooks to be someone younger players look up to next season.
“This season he’s been batting in the seven or eight spot, but I think next year we’ll have him in the middle of the order. I think that will really sort of send the message that he’s one of our leaders on the team,” said coach Peterson.
As far as the young first baseman’s future goes, collegiate ball is definitely on his mind.
“I want to play at the next level. Whether that’s college or something else I can’t say right now. But I will work hard and do whatever it takes to get to that next step,” said Crooks.
Some notable highlights from this week for Crooks include his performance against Pierce, in which he had three hits and two RBI. In Thursday’s semifinal game against Shasta, he tallied two hits and two RBI.
Sutter varsity baseball (16-6, 6-0) will play at Wheatland on Tuesday at 4 p.m.