Brooke Spencer at Hersheys

Brooke Spencer, an 8th-grader in Oakland demonstrates her softball throwing skills on Monday in Oakland. Spencer will be competing in the softball throw at the Hershey's Track and Field Games on Saturday in Hershey, Pa.
Brooke Spencer, an 8th-grader in Oakland demonstrates her softball throwing skills on Monday in Oakland. Spencer will be competing in the softball throw at the Hershey's Track and Field Games on Saturday in Hershey, Pa.ENLARGE

Brooke Spencer, an 8th-grader in Oakland demonstrates her softball throwing skills on Monday in Oakland. Spencer will be competing in the softball throw at the Hershey's Track and Field Games on Saturday in Hershey, Pa.
ROBIN LOZNAK/N-R Photo

Two central Douglas County kids are back on the East Coast this weekend soaking up the Hershey’s experience.

Brooke Spencer of Oakland and Cody Cunningham of Roseburg are among 11 Oregon athletes representing the Northwest Region on Saturday at the 31st annual Hershey’s Track & Field Games North American Finals in Hershey, Pa.

A total of 480 kids — ages 9-14 — from eight regions will compete in the meet. All competitors receive all-expense paid trips to Hershey.

The 12-year-old Spencer, who’s entering the eighth grade at Lincoln Middle School this fall, is in the meet for the second straight year. Cunningham, 10, will be a fifth-grader at Lookingglass Elementary. He’s getting a taste of Hershey for the first time.

Both won state titles in the softball throw, Spencer in the girls 13-14 division and Cunningham in the boys 9-10 class.

“I’m really looking forward to it ... I can’t wait,” Spencer said. “I expect it to be just as fun (as last year). I want to meet new friends and have a really good time.”

“It was awesome,” replied Cunningham, upon learning he was selected to the Northwest team. “It’s amazing, it means a lot. I’ve been counting down my days to go to Pennsylvania and it’s going to be really fun.”

Spencer — who placed second at nationals in the 11-12 division last year — threw a personal best 184 feet, 3 inches at the state meet.

“I was pretty excited about that,” she said. “I only threw 163-0 at the local meet, so it was really surprising I improved by that much. There’s some footwork involved (in the softball throw). You have to get as much of your whole body into it as you can to make it go far.”

Spencer, by the way, will be competing with a torn ACL in her right knee sustained in the early spring. She’s scheduled to have surgery on Aug. 14, and will miss the fall and winter sports seasons. She played some summer softball without knowing the extent of the injury.

“I’m going to be wearing a (knee) brace for the meet,” she said. “It only hurts when I twist it the wrong way.”

Cunningham, a baseball player, is following in his mother’s footsteps. Bethany Cunningham made a pair of trips to Hershey — in the softball throw and 4x100-meter relay.

Any advice from mom?

“Try your best and work really hard,” Cody said.

Cody threw 155-10 at the state meet and feels he’s capable of going farther.

“My father (Curt) has been practicing with me,” he said. “I threw 161 in practice, and my goal is to throw 165-170 at nationals. It’s going to take a lot of arm.”

Spencer and Cunningham were both looking forward to visiting the chocolate plant and HERSHEYPARK entertainment complex today.

“The amusement park is awesome and the chocolate factory is cool,” Spencer said. “I’m going to ride as many roller coasters as I can.”

“The amusement park ... the rides,” replied Cunningham, when asked what he was geared up for.