Betting on Boone: WSU freshman pitcher rides work ethic to Pullman

Sam Boone at Shorewood
Photo by Wayne Pridemore

The Daily Evergreen, the student newspaper of Washington State University in Pullman, recently published a long feature article on Shorewood graduate Sam Boone.

High school athletes are the essence of their culture - they follow flash, fan fair and popularity instead of their heart. When it came time to choose a university, Washington State freshman pitcher Sam Boone went against the grain. He followed his friend, WSU men’s basketball sophomore forward Josh Hawkinson, and his heart to the Palouse.

Boone sent an email to the WSU coaches during his junior year expressing an interest in being a Coug. Anyone can reach out to a school, but it means nothing without the college’s reciprocation of interest. Cougars pitching coach Gregg Swenson called Boone’s high school coach Wyatt Tonkin, in whom he already had strong trust. Tonkin raved about Boone’s abilities on and off the field.

That conversation got Boone in the door. His work ethic and love for the game did the rest. He grew up in Shoreline, Washington, and attended Shorewood High School. He had a lot to live up to and a drive to not let people down.

“I think a lot of it was because Shorewood had a lot of good athletes, good baseball players,” Boone said on the genesis of his strong work ethic. “A couple guys went to the pros and not wanting to disappoint them and work your hardest to get to where they are.”

Read the entire article here