Coupeville Sports

Rockin’ Robin Cedillo and her prairie. (John Fisken photo)

One of the enduring images of this spring came as I was walking back to my car after a CHS baseball game.

Robin Cedillo and Jake Hoagland were walking ahead of me, both wearing their respective uniforms — one for softball, one for baseball — both carrying bats slung over their back.

As they walked and talked, their bats clinked against each other and it was like a freakin’ Norman Rockwell painting come to life. Seriously.

Ballplayers on a Summer Afternoon, or something like that.

And it was, pretty much, a perfect summation of the duo, who are two of the nicest young athletes currently playing in Cow Town.

Since it’s Robin’s birthday, we’re gonna forget about Jake for the moment and focus on the athlete with the braids and the smile which could power an entire prairie on its own.

Miss Cedillo is a walking, talking ray of sunshine, a hard-working, successful, strong young woman who always seems to get a great deal of enjoyment out of her athletic pursuits.

Whether she’s putting in work on the softball field or on the football and basketball sidelines as a cheerleader (she was a captain during hoops season), Robin is one of my personal favorites.

She’s talented, sure, and it was nice to see her take huge strides on the diamond this past season.

Pulling a fair amount of duty in right field, Cedillo proved to be an able, sometimes inspired fielder who would charge balls and make plays, as opposed to sitting back and waiting on them.

At the plate, she swung with more aggression this season and she was quick and dangerous when on the base-paths, while always being one of those players who lock on their coaches with a laser-like focus when they’re in the middle of a discussion.

It’s apparent Cedillo is working on her game, fine-tuning her skills and finding her strengths, and she does so with a passion for the game and her teammates.

As a cheerleader, she has few equals.

Some people are just born with more spirit than others, and there is little doubt it flows through Robin day and night.

Firing off routines with crispness, commanding her fellow cheerleaders without being abrasive, she channels the energy which resides in her soul and shoots it through everyone in the crowd.

Take her away from sports, and Rockin’ Robin is still a fireball, a regular on the school Honor Roll and, as I said before, simply one of the nicest people you are likely to meet.

I assume she’ll be spending most of her cake day being bombarded with well-wishes, all of which she deserves.

But toss this somewhere on the pile — Miss Cedillo, you are a phenomenal young woman, and your fan club grows by the day.

Happy birthday, and thank you for being just plain awesome.