San Diego Player of the Week : Santana High’s Hook Finds His Niche on Pitcher’s Mound

When Santana High’s Mike Hook was 7 and looking for a position on his first Little League baseball team, his coaches shuffled him around the infield, the outfield and finally to the mound.

“They put me on the mound and told me to throw to the catcher and see what happens,” Hook said.

What happened was that Hook threw harder than anyone else on the team.

The 6-foot, 194-pound senior has depended on his overpowering fastball ever since.

Hook, The Times Player of the Week, struck out 15 last Friday to lead the second-ranked Sultans to a 14-1 victory over El Cajon.

This season, Hook, whose fastball has been clocked at 88 m.p.h., has a 0.71 earned-run average, 6-1 record and 83 strikeouts in 48 innings to lead Santana to a 7-1 slate in Grossmont League play and 15-2 mark overall.

Hook has played on the varsity team since his sophomore year. As a sophomore, he registered a 6-0 record. Last year, he was 5-1 and was a first-team All-League selection.

Hook also uses a slider and a curve, but it’s the right-hander’s fastball that keeps opposing batters apprehensive.

“He definitely intimidates batters,” said Santana catcher Jeff Gay. “You can tell by the way a guy comes up to the plate that he doesn’t want to hit against Mike.”

Sultan Coach Jim Saska said that he is at ease every time Hook takes the mound.

“As a coach, it’s a good feeling knowing that your pitcher will have a complete game and possibly a win,” Saska said of Hook, who has pitched complete games in all but two of his eight appearances this season.

One game Hook didn’t finish was against league-rival Valhalla earlier this season. He was thrown out for bowling over the catcher while attempting to score in the fourth inning. That’s illegal in high school baseball.

Before he was thrown out, Hook had a no-hitter and a 1-0 lead in three innings. Valhalla eventually won, 10-1.

“Once he got tossed, that switched the momentum of the game real bad,” Saska said.

Hook is known as the type to clown around, and his teammates call him “flaky.” But that collision at the plate demonstrates another part of his personality. He can be intense when the situation is serious.

“He’s awfully entertaining to be around,” Saska said. “Practices are never dull when Mike is around. But in the game, he can get serious, although it’s not beyond him to start laughing out there.”

Said Gay: “He’s just a big clown. He’ll be laughing on the mound. He’s flaky, but he’s a good competitor.”

Hook, who is often seen talking to himself or laughing out loud on the mound, said that having a sense of humor helps in pressure situations.

“I guess I’m always joking around,” he said. “When I get wild, I usually talk to myself and that usually calms me down.”