By Caitlin Slater
Two state titles within 24 hours was icing on the cake for Hamilton High School as they finish the school year strong.
Starting Monday night the Huskies softball team defeated Pinnacle 3-0 to claim the Division I state championship. Rocky Parra’s team finished 31-7 ending the season on a nine-game win streak.
Less than 24 hours later, Hamilton’s baseball team turned the double play so-to-speak blowing out Mountain Ridge 12-3 to claim the baseball title.
The atmosphere was “electric” at both games according to Hamilton’s Principal Ken James.
“Even though the energy from the students was exciting we kind of dominated both games I felt. We weren’t worried in either game,” James told Sports360AZ.com.
The title sweep was just what the school needed as they hope to be awarded the best sports school in Arizona.
“We will find out probably this week,” says James.
The last time they received this achievement, which is based off number of championships, was back in 2010-2011. Hamilton has been to five state championships this year. In addition to softball and baseball, the Huskies claimed titles in boy’s soccer, girl’s basketball and pom and cheer.
Walking through the halls of Hamilton High you can feel the buzz in the air.
James describes the aftermath of last week’s victories, “What I think it’s done is keep everybody together…we only have a few days left of school so I kind of liked the fact that we were playing this long because it gave our school a focus.”
Hamilton is keeping local carpenters busy, as well.
“We are building another trophy case,” James said. “So I hope we fill that one up, too.”
Year in, year out Hamilton continues to raise the bar in both boys and girls sports.
“The expectations are high at Hamilton,”Athletic Director Sharon Vanis explained, “The baseball boys are some of the best supporters of all sports, making up a large amount of the student section at other Hamilton sporting events.
“For them to win [state] was like icing on the cake.”
How sweet it is.
