VALLEY SPORTS REPORT: ATHENS' COOKE TOPS SUPER 7 AS BOYS 'NEWCOMER OF THE SPRING' (2024-06-14)

Valley Sports Report
THE VALLEY — Athens freshman Brendan Cooke made an instant impact at the plate, and in the field in his first varsity baseball season for the Wildcats. He is the Valley Sports Report 2024 Boys "Newcomer of the Spring."

Cooke led the Wildcats in hitting, and was one of three to earn Gold Gloves on the All-Valley team.

Cooke hit .412 (21 hits in 51 ABs) with three doubles, one triple, one home run, 10 RBI, eight runs scored, and one steal.

He walked 11 times, was hit by pitches twice, and had a .531 on-base percentage, to go along with a .580 slugging percentage for 1.110 OPS.

2024 ALL-VALLEY BOYS NEWCOMERS OF THE SPRING:
Brendan Cooke, freshman, Athens baseball: See above.

Graham Wanck, freshman, Athens track & field: Wanck finished second in 1,600 and in the 3,200 at the NTL Championships, and was on the fourth-place 3,200-meter relay team.

At the District 4, Class 3A Championships, Wanck finished third in the 3,200-meter run in a school-record time of 9:38.42 — eclipsing the previous mark by more than 19 seconds, and his previous-best time by more than 20 seconds. He missed out on States in 3A, but would have easily qualified in 2A.

Wanck was ninth in the 1,600 at Districts, and ran on the seventh-place 3,200 relay.

Xavier Watson, junior, Waverly track & field: Aside from his role on the 400-meter relay team that won a N.Y. State gold medal and a fourth-place medal in the Federation race, Watson earned points for the Wolverines in the 100 and 200 during the regular season, but his best individual event was the high jump, where he had a season-best of 5-feet, 10-inches.

Watson finished 12th in the high jump at the STAC meet, was seventh at the Section IV, Class C Championships, and ninth at the State Qualifier.

Jon Apgar, senior, Sayre: Apgar hit .341 (15 hits in 44 ABs) in his first varsity season, with four doubles, one triple, five RBI, and eight runs scored. He walked seven times, was hit by one pitch, and had a .442 on-base percentage, to go along with a .477 slugging percentage for a .920 OPS.

Connor Davidson, freshman, Athens: Davidson hit .300 (21 hits in 70 ABs) with three doubles, nine RBI, 17 runs scored, and four stolen bases. He also walked 11 times and had a .390 on-base percentage.

Zach Mumbulo, sophomore, Tioga: Mumbulo hit .346 (18 hits in 52 ABs), six doubles, two triples, 13 RBI, 11 runs scored, and five stolen bases. He walked 10 times, and had a .452 on-base percentage, to go along with a .538 slugging percentage for a .990 OPS.

Jase Babcock, junior, Athens: A consistent point-winner in three or four events through the regular season, Babcock finished second in the high jump, fourth in the long jump, and seventh in the triple jump at the NTL Championships. He also ran on the winning 400-meter relay team.

At Districts, he finished fourth in the high jump, and 12th in the long jump. He also ran on the sixth-place 400-meter relay team.


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