First Colonial graduate takes control

Ryan Cook was a standout third baseman his junior season at First Colonial when he hit .333 and made second team All-Beach District.

But since the Patriots needed pitchers this past season, Cook eagerly stepped up.

"I like being in control, setting the pace and controlling the game," he said.

Cook was in control throughout his senior season. He defeated Cox in the Patriots' opener March 15, then struck out 11 as they topped then-No. 1 Ocean Lakes a week later.

Cook finished the season 6-2 with a 1.80 ERA and struck out 80 in 58 innings. He was named first-team All-Beach District and second-team All-Eastern Region.

He also earned a spot in the Virginia High School Coaches Association all-star game, which is 7 p.m. Wednesday at War Memorial Stadium in Newport News. All-star week begins on the Peninsula today with the girls and boys basketball games at Christopher Newport.

Cook, Ocean Lakes' Shawn Morimando, Western Branch's Nick Johnson and Great Bridge's Justin Lee are scheduled to play in the baseball game.

Cook "made my job so much easier," First Colonial coach Scott Stubbe said. "We didn't have the strongest team offensively this year, and he kept us in the game by challenging hitters."

A four-year varsity player, Cook pitched sparingly his first three seasons at First Colonial. While he loves taking the mound, he said playing primarily as an infielder at that time helped him recover from arm injuries incurred when he was younger.

A right-hander, Cook also said his key to success was having the confidence to throw pitches - he mixes a changeup and curve with a fastball that nears 90 mph - for strikes.

"At first I was noticing my pitch count getting up," Cook said. "Then I realized I was able to get hitters out just by throwing it in the zone."

Next season, Cook will play for the University of Richmond. He first caught the eye of Spiders head coach Mark McQueen while pitching in a fall league in 2009.

McQueen pitched briefly in the minors and has worked with college pitchers for more than 20 years.

"The thing I really liked was the way he got extension out front with his arm," McQueen said. "That helps control, it helps location, and it helps movement."

McQueen said Cook likely will begin as a middle reliever, with the chance to work his way into the starting rotation. There's also a chance he'll become a two-way player, being used at both pitcher and third base, though that's unlikely next season.

Whatever role he's in, Cook is eager for the challenge.

"There's going to be struggles," he said. "I have to learn to deal with that and have a short-term memory."