Preston Chaudoin struck out 13 and tossed a one-hit gem in Game One, Zach Moss and Chaudoin both homered in Game Two, and the Hopkinsville High School baseball team clinched the No. 2 seed in the 8th District on Monday, as the Tigers swept University Heights Academy, respectively, by scores of 10-0 and 11-1 (five innings) in a doubleheader.
In the first game, Chaudoin was electric. The Hoptown senior and Murray State University commit threw all seven innings and allowed just one hit and one walk in the dominant effort. Chaudoin fanned 13 of the 25 batters he faced and took over the team lead for K’s (59) in 32 2/3 innings of work this season.
Chaudoin also helped himself at the plate, leading the Tigers with two hits. He was also one of four HHS batters to score a pair of runs, joined by Jacob Dilday, Landon Cook and Mason Spain in the feat. UHA’s Jackson Flynn struggled with his command and issued all five of his walks in the first inning Monday. Hopkinsville would take advantage on Joseph Boor’s two-run single, helping to give the Tigers a 4-0 advantage at the end of one inning.
Hoptown reached double digits in the top of the seventh on Zach Moss’ RBI single and drawn bases-loaded walks by Boor and Dilday. Six different Tigers drew a pair of walks in the win, with 15 total bases on balls issued by Heights.
The Blazers’ lone hit was a single by Ryan Luckey that followed a Nic Luckey walk, giving UHA its two lead-off batters on base to start the bottom of the sixth. Chaudoin (4-0) proceeded to fan a pair and induce a pop out to left field, however, that left the Blazers without a successful rally.
In Game Two, Chaudoin and University of Kentucky commit Moss both used their power at the plate to lead a 10-run third inning. The future Racer and future Wildcat hit back-to-back home runs to put the Tigers up 10-0. The duo finished the second game a combined 3-for-7 with four runs and five RBIs.
Dilday (2-5) went the distance for Hopkinsville, striking out eight and scattering three hits in five innings. The lone run he allowed came in the top of the fifth inning, when Nic Luckey singled home JT Dearmond to cut the HHS lead to 11-1. With two runners on, however, Dilday ended the game with consecutive strikeouts and a Flynn line out to center.
The offensive explosion in the third inning was sparked by Christopher Medina, who doubled and scored on one of three University Heights errors. Medina finished 1-for-2 with two runs and an RBI. West joined Medina with a double in the win, going 1-for-3 with a pair of RBIs. Jaiden Miles (2-2) took the Blazer loss after giving up six hits and 10 runs (four earned) in three innings.
Hoptown (10-13) finishes the 2022 campaign with a 4-2 mark in 8th District play. The Tigers will play UHA (11-15, 2-4) one more time May 16 in the district tournament semifinals. The win-or-go-home victor will take on the winner of Christian County and Fort Campbell in the 8th District final on Tuesday, May 17.
One Response
I think Jacob Dilday should have gotten more press for his contribution on the second UHA doubleheader