YSE File Photo
It might be a small sample size, but the Hopkinsville High School baseball squad is already showing that pitching and defense are definite strengths in 2024. Three days after blanking state-ranked Lyon County, the Tigers earned a second straight shutout for the first time since April 18, 2022, defeating Ohio County, 5-0, on Thursday.
Sophomore Andrew Mayes was the impetus during the latest goose egg. He fanned seven Eagles, walked just one, and was accurate on the mound during the four-hit complete game. Mayes also received a confidence boost early, as Hoptown scored twice in the first inning, thanks to one of two doubles by Zach Moss, an RBI single from Dylan Sweeney, and bases-loaded hit by a pitch taken by Chase Fort.
The Tigers eventually chased Ohio County starter Davey Hiner before the fifth inning, getting the senior for four hits, three walks and two runs. HHS manufactured three more insurance runs on three wild pitches in the sixth to give Mayes plenty of breathing room. OCHS got a lead-off single from Kaden Goff to start the team’s final at-bat in the seventh, but Mayes induced three straight ground ball outs to close out the dominant performance.
Moss and freshman Layton Lindsey both had two hits to lead Hopkinsville. Sweeney (1-for-2, run, RBI, walk) was one of four Tigers to register a hit. Moss also walked twice — two of the six free passes drawn by HHS.
The Tigers (2-0) will play their third straight road game to begin the 2024 campaign and look for their third straight shutout — a feat they haven’t accomplished since March 18, 2017 — at 6:30 p.m. Monday at West Creek in Clarksville, Tennessee.
