While the Sedona Red Rock High School softball season lasted only four games before the COVID-19 crisis brought it to an early end, it’s likely that Scorpions shortstop Annabelle Cook will look back on her freshman season as a memorable one.
Sedona coach Bri Young nominated Cook for Sports360AZ’s All-Academic Softball Team. With a weighted grade point average of 4.0, Cook was named to the team, which honors the top student athletes in softball from Division 1A to Division 4A.
“When I get these things and I get the chance to nominate, she’s always one of the first ones I think of,” SRRHS coach Bri Young said. “She works so hard and still works so hard, even though the season’s been canceled. She’s invaluable to the school as a student and as an athlete.”
Cook is one of a total of 119 Arizona softball players and the only Sedona Red Rock High School athlete in any sport to receive First Team All-Academic Honors. The other local athletes who were honored were Mingus’ John Valentine and Camp Verde’s Bennett Holm. Valentine received First Team honors for boys tennis while Holm received honorable mention honors in softball.
Cook, who identified Chemistry and AP World History as her favorite classes, was thankful to be honored in such a way.
“I was really grateful and thankful for Ms. Young and all of my teachers,” Cook said. “It was a great opportunity for me as a freshman to receive such an honor.”
Unfortunately for Cook and the Scorpions, their time on the diamond this spring didn’t last long. But Cook’s numbers during the abbreviated campaign left the Scorpions with what could have happened had the entire season been played.
Cook excelled at the plate over the four games, hitting .778 [7-for-9] with three doubles. She also stole four bases and scored a total of six runs for the Scorpions in the shortened season.
