Cook ends hiatus, returns to minors Port Huron lefty rejoins 'A' club By BRIAN MARSHALL Times Herald It's not that modified softball was boring, but Ron Cook is ready to get back to playing "real" baseball. Cook, who has been home in Port Huron playing softball the past month, has decided to resume his professional baseball career. Cook, who came home when the Detroit Tigers demoted him from Class AA to A, has reconsidered and hopped on a plane for Lakeland, Fla. Monday. Lakeland is the home of the Tigers' Class A affiliate, where Cook has spent the last two full seasons. Cook, a left-handed pitcher, broke spring training this season at AA London, but after two bad outings was told he would be heading to Lakeland. Instead, Cook came home, saying he had nothing left to prove at Lakeland after two strong seasons there. At 22, he was considering giving up professional ball and beginning life anew. The Tigers kept calling Cook, indicating the door was still open, as long as it i . f I'll go down there and give it everything I've got and hopefully prove them wrong. It's baseball and 22 is awful young (to quit). Rookies in the big leagues are all 25, 26." Ron Cook led to Lakeland. Finally, Cook agreed and joined the Lakeland team Monday. "I'll go down there and give it everything I've got and hopefully prove them wrong," Cook said. "It's baseball and 22 is awful young (to quit). Rookies in the big leagues are all 25, 26. "I'll give it this year and another and I'll be a (minor league) free agent. I'll stick it out and see what happens." Cook was encouraged when the Tigers recently called up Mike Dalton, a 28-year-old pitcher who had never reached the majors. Cook said the only difference between many Tigers' pitchers is experience and opportunity. Cook said Tigers officials told him they would not release him from his contract, confident that another organization would pick him up. After next season, his sixth in the minors, he automatically becomes a free agent. Cook hopes his going AWOL won't be held over his head as he tries to rescue his career. "I've been told not at all, but I'U have to see how it goes," Cook said. "I know at Lakeland it won't be a problem because (manager John) Lipon is going to be as fair as anybody." Cook is sure he will have to spend the remaining three months of the season at Lakeland. He is hoping he again makes the London roster at the beginning of next season with one difference. He expects to stick around long enough to get to know the town.