Sports staff lay out their top five spring athletes

(GEORGE HUGHES/EYE OF THE TIGER)

JACOB COLE

Number one on our spring sports list is three-year varsity volleyball player Jacob Cole.

The junior captain had an outstanding season as the team’s starting outside hitter and was instrumental on the Tigers’ journey to a Sac-Joaquin Section Division I championship and the NorCal finals.

(GEORGE HUGHES/EYE OF THE TIGER)

Cole had over 362 kills this season, leading the team and also putting him at fourteenth in the nation for highest number of kills.

He led the Tigers in kills per set, with 3.5, and had the second-highest hitting percentage at .268, making him an obvious standout on the offensive side of the ball.

Fellow captain Neal Reilly believes Cole exceeded the high expectations that were set for him at the beginning of this year and has excelled on the court, even under pressure.

 

MADDIE MEADE

Number two on our list is track and field runner senior Maddie Meade. Meade has been a known all-star on the team for years yet still managed to exceed expectations and impress this year.

(COURTESY/MADDIE MEADE)

She is arguably the best runner on the entire track team, excelling in a variety of races that span from the 400 meter to the mile.

She’s broken countless RHS records throughout her career, most notably her 5:08 mile time that she ran this year that now stands as the fastest in RHS history.

Her success over the years resulted in interest and offers from multiple colleges this year.

She decided on UC Santa Barbara and will continue her running career onto the collegiate level next year as a Gaucho.

JAKE LITTLEJOHN

Four-year varsity golfer Jake Littlejohn comes in as the third-best athlete this spring.

Littlejohn has been the team’s number one golfer for quite some time and led the team to its first ever playoff appearance this year.

(COURTESY/COREY FUKUMAN)

He averaged 38.4 strokes per nine-hole match, which is just above two strokes over par at most courses, and 75.7 per eighteen-hole match – just under four strokes over par at most courses.

His impressive play over the years has earned him attention from multiple colleges and universities, and he eventually decided to accept a scholarship offer from La Verne University to play golf.

Senior teammate Parker Crews feels that because of Littlejohn’s hard work and dedication, he is very deserving of his spot on the list.

JAMES JONES

Senior James Jones lands in the number four position on the top spring athletes list. He is a standout shot putter and discus thrower for the track and field team and he recently brought home a section championship win for the discus in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II-Division III Finals meet.

Additionally, his 144 foot eight inch throw broke his personal best by about five feet.In the same meet, his 46 foot shotput throw earned him a second-place section finish.

(COURTESY/JAMES JONES)

He’s also a track and field team captain, and his brother, sophomore runner Donovan Jones, said that the role suits him.

“He brings good energy,” Jones said. “In practice he always makes sure everyone is on task [and] makes people run if they are messing around.”

LILY AMOS

(GEORGE HUGHES/EYE OF THE TIGER)

Rounding out our list at number five is varsity softball player junior Lily Amos. Amos was one of the most versatile players on the team this year, going six for six on stolen bases, contributing 40 outs and dominating from the batter’s box. Amos was able to acquire a .368 batting average, score 25 runs and earn 23 RBI.

The most impressive statistic Amos possess is home runs. She was able to crush eight home runs throughout the course of the season, more than any other player in the Capital Valley Conference.

Senior pitcher Megan Anderson sees Amos as a skilled leader who excels in all aspects of the game.

“Lily leads through her vocals and through her play,” Anderson said. “She makes very few errors and comes in clutch at the plate.”