This hydroplane driver had something to prove after a devastating flip. He did this weekend

Corey Peabody has been waiting almost a year to drive an unlimited hydroplane in an actual race.

Last year, the driver of Strong Racing’s U-9 boat, won the APBA Gold Cup in Guntersville, Ala.

But the following week, Peabody flipped the U-9 in Madison, Ind., destroying the boat in the process.

Earlier this month, Peabody got a chance to drive the rebuilt U-9 — now named the U-9 Beacon Plumbing — at the annual H1 Spring Training event in Kennewick.

“A lot of work happened (on the boat) after that flip last summer,” Peabody told the Herald. “And it was hard for me to come to races, and watch from the hospitality area.”

On Sunday, in his first race back after that flip, Peabody raced the U-9 boat to victory, winning the Southern Cup in Guntersville, Ala.

The actual Southern Cup final was not completed, as a fast approaching thunderstorm wiped out that race.

Race officials tried to move the schedule up, and actually got the final started. But early on, Andrew Tate, driving the U-91 Goodman Real Estate, flipped his boat to stop the final.

Tate was not injured. But at that point, H1 officials ended the day.

The title was determined by which team had the most points over the three rounds of preliminary heats.

That was Peabody, who drove the U-9 Beacon Plumbing to three victories.

He had 1,280 points on the weekend.

It was a great rebound for Peabody, who loved the way the U-9 was handling back in early June.

“The boat is more responsive now,” said Peabody. “The canard is new. It’s not as sloppy. There is no play in it.”

As team manager, it’s Peabody’s job to make sure his team, as well as Strong Racing’s U-8 Beacon Electric (with driver J. Michael Kelly) are competing at their best.

“We’re thinking big picture this season,” said Peabody.

Kelly and Peabody have been life-long pals since they were little kids. And there is no jealousy among teams.

“For us, if Mike is first I’m happy. If I’m first, he’s happy for me,” said Peabody. “We’re here to run two first-place boats. It’s about collecting points (for the season championship). And we’ve gotta be there at the start.”

Peabody was, winning everything he raced in Sunday.

Despite his flip, Tate placed second on the weekend in the high-points race. Jamie Nilsen, driving the U-11 Legend Yacht Transport, placed third.

The next H1 Unlimited race is next weekend, in Madison, Ind.

The Columbia Cup is July 28-30 in the Tri-Cities.

College track and field

Kenneth Rooks (College Place) was named a Bowerman semifinalist last week.

Rooks won the men’s 3,000 meters steeplechase recently at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Austin, Texas.

The Bowerman is college track and field’s highest individual honor. It’s awarded in December, and only marks from the 2023 indoor and outdoor collegiate track and field season to be considered for the award.

The three finalists will be named on Tuesday, June 27.

Prep football

Kennewick High senior-to-be Nathan Knapik announced this past week that he has committed to playing college football at the University of Idaho.

Knapik will join his older brother, Ayden Knapik, who will be a sophomore this fall.

Ayden Knapik started on the offensive line for the Vandals last season as a true freshman.

Nathan Knapik is also an offensive lineman.

▪ Royal’s Kaleb Hernandez was named the East’s outstanding offensive player Saturday at the Earl Barden Classic in Moxee.

Hernandez scored the East’s lone touchdown, then scored the 2-point conversion, to beat the West 8-6 in overtime.

The game featured some of the top seniors from Class 2A, 1A, 2B and 1B.

Hernandez finished with 7 rushes for 24 yards.

Other East stars were Othello’s Sonny Asu, who caught 6 passes for 66 yards; and River View Miguel Farias, who rushed 6 times for 41 yards.

College baseball

Kamiakin graduate Brady Bean had an outstanding freshman season at Saint Martin’s University, where he led the baseball team with a .384 batting average and 56 hits.

Bean also had 2 home runs, 22 RBIs and a team-best 19 stolen bases.

Bean caught a lot of attention from bigger schools, and he announced last week that he was transferring to the University of Portland for next season.

▪ CBC freshman pitcher Ethan Petty, who made just 8 appearances for the Hawks this spring, has been signed by four-year school University of Jamestown. Petty comes from South Whidbey.

▪ CBC sophomore pitcher Brady Toth (Boise) is headed to Bellevue University in Nebraska next season.

Toth was 1-1 this past season for CBC, striking out 18 batters in 20.2 innings. He also had a 3.92 earned run average for the Hawks.

College basketball

Teagan Hoard, who just completed his sophomore season this spring playing for the Columbia Basin College men’s basketball team, announced he’s committed to playing this coming fall for the Cal State San Marcos.

Hoard came off of the bench for CBC coach Anthony Owens much of the season, and he averaged 9.1 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.6 steals a contest.

The Central Valley High School graduate transferred to CBC before last season after spending his freshman season at Lewis-Clark State College.

He helped the Hawks finish third in the NWAC tournament in March, and the Hawks had a 22-7 record.

Jeff Morrow is former sports editor for the Tri-City Herald.