Photo Credit: Jessica Adkins Momtography

Pike Central’s baseball team was a young group this season, graduating just one senior, and if sophomore Jonah Hicks is any indication of what’s ahead, the future looks bright in the Hawks Nest.

Hicks put together a monster year at the plate, leading the 15th Region with a .509 batting average over 33 games and 109 at-bats. He collected 55 hits, including one home run ball. As the season winds down, Hicks sits 23rd in the state in batting average, and the only player ahead of him on this side of I-75 is Hazard standout Tucker Napier, a multi-sport standout athlete.

Batting average wasn’t the only place Hicks made noise. He also led the region in hits with 55, ranking eighth in the state overall. He finished 41st in Kentucky in runs scored with 43 and 27th in stolen bases with 34 — meaning he averaged at least one stolen base per game.

And Hicks isn’t just a hitter. He’s second in the 15th Region in strikeouts with 107, just behind East Ridge’s Cole Ratliff (115), and sits ninth in the state in that category as well.

There’s clearly a lot of talent in the mountains right now, and for Pike Central, a lot of sunshine on the horizon with Hicks leading the way.

The Hawks finished the season 15-18 after falling to Prestonsburg 5-3 in the opening round of the 15th Region Tournament.