Chaudoin Shines, Leads Hoptown to First Win Over Union County Since 2014

The game turned unexpectedly into a nailbiter in the seventh inning but the Hopkinsville High School baseball team held on to earn a 6-5 win over Union County on Friday. It’s the first Tiger victory over the Braves since March 31, 2014, and their first such win in Morganfield in 11 years.

Preston Chaudoin was electric on the mound for Hoptown, striking out nine and throwing six shutout innings. He also had a clutch performance at the plate and ended up scoring a massive run in the top of the seventh, on a Union County wild pitch, that gave HHS a 6-0 lead.

The Braves, who were coming off back-to-back losses to top-25 squads from Henderson County and Owensboro Catholic, answered with a furious comeback attempt in their final at-bat. After Jace Bealmear laced a leadoff single, UCHS drew four straight bases on balls and cut Hopkinsville’s lead to 6-2 on Beau Hopper’s bases-loaded walk.

Union County continued its rally when a two-run Tiger error and Riley Cullen’s RBI groundout pulled the Braves within 6-5 of visiting Hoptown. With the tying run 90 feet away, however, HHS relief pitcher Jacob Dilday struck out Isaac Phillips to end Hopkinsville’s six-game losing streak to Union.

The fierce 2nd Region battle was a pitchers duel during the first five innings. Chaudoin and his counterpart Hopper matched scoreless frames until the Tigers finally broke through in the top of the sixth. After Chaudoin walked to load the bases, Joseph Boor’s two-run single put HHS up 2-0.

On the next pitch, Landon Cook turned a bunt into an RBI single, plating Chaudoin and giving the Tigers a 3-0 cushion. In the seventh inning, Hoptown would grab a few insurance runs that ended up being beyond crucial. Following an Andrew Riggs single and Dilday being hit by a pitch, Chaudoin’s RBI single made it 4-0 Hopkinsville.

Charles Rutland and Chaudoin proceeded to score on respective wild pitches to make it 6-0, seemingly setting the stage for an easy shutout victory. The Braves had different plans against Dilday, though, but fell short of snapping their two-game slide. Hoptown is now 4-3 against regional opponents this season, while Union County falls to 7-4.

Chaudoin, Dilday and Rutland each scored a pair of runs apiece, accounting for all six for the Tigers. Boor finished 2-for-2 with two walks and the aforementioned two RBIs. Dilday reached base three times.

Hopper (1-5) was tagged with the loss after giving up four walks and a pair of earned runs. He did strike out seven batters, giving him a team-high 26 for the season. Chaudoin (3-0) stayed unbeaten by walking just one and scattering five hits. The Braves had at least one hit in each of the first five innings, including a two-out double by Cannon Sheffer in the first inning, but ultimately stranded a half-dozen runners.

Hopkinsville (8-10), winners of three of its last five games, will play at No. 4 Paducah Tilghman on May 2 before hosting a rematch against Union County (11-10) on May 3.