By Josh Nichols

PREVIEW – Hoptown Baseball Returns With Holes to Fill in 2023

Posted: March 20, 2023
Article, Featured

After a 13-16 season that ended in the opening round of the 2^nd-Region tournament and with the departure of a six-man senior class that made up the bulk of their lineup, the Hopkinsville Tigers have holes to fill in what figures to be a competitive 8^th District in 2023.

All-State 2^nd Team selection Preston Chaudoin is now at Murray State after doing it all for the Tigers as a senior. Chaudoin was 5-1 on the mound with a minuscule 0.46 ERA and 84 strikeouts. He also led the Tigers with a .365 batting average with 31 hits and a pair of home runs.

First baseman Joseph Boor’s bat will also be missed after he hit .349 with 22 RBI, and Jacob Dilday chewed up a team-high 47 innings on the mound with 72 strikeouts and a 2.79 ERA.

Junior outfielder/pitcher Zach Moss leads the returnees after hitting .316 with four home runs and 25 RBI on the way to All-District and All-Region recognition. Moss was also 2-2 on the mound with a 2.82 ERA.

The Tigers are also bolstered by the arrival of junior infielder/pitcher JJ Thompson. Thompson helped Heritage Christian Academy to a KCAA state title last year, tossing a one-hit gem in the championship game. He was named to the KCAA All-State and All-Tournament teams, hitting .649 with a pair of home runs during the season.

Junior Lucas Kaetzel took his turn on the mound and played in the outfield early this season after catching last year. Senior Christopher Medina is back as well, along with sophomore Gavin Powell. In addition, freshmen Andrew Mayes and Thomas Hallmark combined for five appearances on the mound last season, and 8^th-graders Dylan Sweeney, Chase Fort, and Gavin Mitchell will have roles to play.

The Tigers are off to an 0-2 start after a pair of losses to Northeast, TN, and will look to get on track on Monday with a trip to Todd County Central before hosting the Rebels on Tuesday.

Hopkinsville will spend spring break in Florida to play in the Fort Walton Beach Bash, and district play begins April 14 at Christian County. The Colonels knocked off the Tigers 7-3 in last season’s district-title game and have taken the previous three games in the series.