Trigg County High School hadn’t won a baseball season opener since 2019. That changed in convincing fashion Monday, as the Wildcats pounded 12 hits and got a sensational pitching performance from Aidon Butts, en route to a 14-2 home win over Hopkins County Central.
Butts, who had 33 strikeouts in seven games last season, racked up one-third of that total in just five innings during the 2023 opener. The sophomore hurler delivered strikes on 50 of his 73 pitches, held the Storm to just two hits, and walked only two in the run-shortened affair. Butts also helped himself at the plate, hitting one of two Trigg doubles and driving in a run in a balanced offensive attack.
The Wildcats pounced early and never let up. After Matthew Leeper walked and then proceeded to steal second and third base to begin Trigg’s first at-bat, Chase Hampton drove in the first run of the year with a single to left. Kaiden McCormick followed suit with an RBI knock of his own, and a ground ball by Haydon Reynolds eventually plated two, giving TCHS a 4-0 lead after the two-run Hopkins Central error.
Leeper came up again and eventually capped the big inning, driving in two with an RBI single during his second plate appearance of the frame. The ‘Cats got hits from seven different players and RBI from six during the game. Hampton and McCormick shared the team lead with RBI (3) and combined to go 5-of-8 at the dish.
The Storm, who committed six errors in the loss, were already down 8-0 when they finally found the scoreboard in the top of the third. After HCCHS put its first two batters on to start the inning, and a run came home on a passed ball, Jaden Brasher’s infield grounder led to Trigg’s only error of the night, cutting the Wildcat lead to 8-2.
Butts would settle in, though, and strike out the next two to escape the jam and the threat. He struck out the side in order to end the contest. Senior Ian Kinkade (0-1) took the loss for Hopkins County Central. He allowed five hits and five walks in two innings. Of the 14 runs allowed by two Storm pitchers only three were earned. Maxwell Clarke gave up seven hits in relief.
Trigg County, which plays three straight home games to open the season, will take on Todd County Central at 6 p.m. Tuesday, then Russellville on March 16. The Wildcats will be seeking their first win over the Rebels since 2018.
