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‘Hack’ garners awards before bidding Ridgecrest farewell

By Nathaniel Liedl, Staff Writer, The Daily Independent

“I love my nickname and my family and friends refer by it all the time,” said “Hack.”

“Hack,” the Desert Dawg of the Year, and Kyle Hanson — different titles, yet the same person.

On Thursday, Cerro Coso Community College Baseball Coach Dick Adams honored Hanson as the team’s Desert Dawg of the Year — the Most Valuable Player, academic, and overall person — all packaged into one award.

“My mom always describes it as the person you’d like to have,” said Hanson “I love getting the award.”

It is the second award in a week that “Hack” has received. Last Thursday, May 10, he was recognized as Cerro Coso’s co-Athlete and Scholar of the Year and received an award as the Physical Education Student of the Year. PE Professor Kimberlee Kelly presented the award described Hanson as a “well-rounded man and a leader on his team. I have no doubt that he will be a great asset to the physical education profession.”

Hanson graduated from CCCC with a double major in physical education and general sciences with a 3.54 GPA. He will attend Colorado State University-Pueblo in the fall, where he will major in kinesiology with plans to become a personal trainer.

“It seems like a fun job and getting to help people,” said Hanson.

At CSU-Pueblo, Hanson will be accompanied by fellow Coyote John Proesl.

It’s gonna make things a lot easier just knowing someone,” said Hanson. “When I came in at semester last season it was an intimidating feeling...going with a teammate, someone who knows what type of person I am is going to make things a lot easier.”

Hanson spent his first collegiate semester at Feather River College near Reno, Nev., which he said did not work out. However, the coaches at CCCC “asked me to come in with open arms,” said Hanson, who said his experience here has worked out “enormously better.”

“Just the chemistry with the guys down here was better and it was more fun.”

Hanson’s nickname was adopted on the diamond during high school. Teammates told him he reminded them of baseball legend Hack Wilson, “a short, stubby guy.” At the time, “Hack,” now a 6-footer, said he was about 5’7”, or 5’8” inches at the time, hence the nickname.

“I love my nickname and my family and friends refer by it all the time,” said “Hack.”

He also batted .329 for the team this past season and Coach Adams trusted him enough to call the pitches, easing his own duties.

“Kyle is just a very hard nosed, tough, aggressive player, but he’s a very good player,” said Adams.

Besides his reputation as a player, he is respected as a person too. Adams said he is a “very quality kid with high morals” and a “very wholesome kid.”

“Teammates like him because he practices everyday hard and he plays hard.”

Friday, May 18, 2007

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